Ai Weiwei has constructed a profession on defiance. Whether or not smashing historic artifacts or filling museum flooring with handcrafted porcelain sunflower seeds, his work is a problem to authority, a refusal to simply accept historical past at face worth. Now, Seattle will host his most expansive U.S. exhibition but.
Ai, Insurgent: The Artwork and Activism of Ai Weiwei, opening this week on the Seattle Artwork Museum (SAM), spans 40 years of labor—over 130 items that confront energy, censorship and cultural id. Iconic works like “Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn” (1995), “Examine of Perspective” (1995–2011), and “Sunflower Seeds” (2010) shall be on view, alongside new items making their worldwide debut.
For the primary time in its historical past, SAM will dedicate all three of its areas to a single artist. The Seattle Asian Artwork Museum will characteristic Ai’s LEGO recreation of “Water Lilies” (March 19, 2025–March 15, 2026), whereas the Olympic Sculpture Park will showcase his huge “Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads (Bronze)” (Might 17, 2025–Might 17, 2027), a contemporary tackle China’s looted zodiac sculptures.
Guests may also dive deeper into Ai’s philosophy by way of two of his books, Humanity and Weiwei-isms, revealed by No Extra Rulers and obtainable on the museum store. The exhibition shall be on view from March 12 till September 7, 2025.
Seattle Artwork Museum
1300 1st Ave
Seattle, WA 98101
