Born in Beijing in 1957, Ai Weiwei is a globally acclaimed artist known for his bold aesthetic statements that engage deeply with today’s geopolitical issues. Working across a diverse range of media—including architecture, sculpture, installations, social media, and documentary film—Ai continually explores new ways to challenge and reflect on society and its values.

He is the recipient of prestigious honors such as Amnesty International’s 2015 Ambassador of Conscience Award and the 2012 Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent from the Human Rights Foundation. His first feature-length documentary, Human Flow, premiered in competition at the 74th Venice Film Festival. Ai currently lives and works between Cambridge and Berlin.