Liu Wei

Early Life and Background

Liu Wei grew up in Beijing during a time of immense social and economic transformation in China. He graduated from the National Academy of Fine Arts in Hangzhou in 1996. Remaining in Beijing, he forged his presence in China’s dynamic art scene while developing a practice that eschews fixed techniques or media. Experiences of rapid urbanisation and evolving ideologies continue to shape his outlook and work.

Liu Wei Artworks

Liu Wei’s practice is marked by a constant reconfiguration of familiar materials, from industrial doors and books to dog chew toys and mirrors. Through these assemblages, he critically reflects on the expansion of modern cities and the psychological effects of accelerated progress. Major works include Super Structure (2005–2007), cityscapes built from dog chews; the Purple Air painting series, portraying stylised skyscrapers; and large-scale installations like Enigma (2014), which invited audiences to negotiate monumental obstacles.

His sculptures and immersive environments often deploy a blend of the raw and the refined, such as Throw a Dice (2024) and Speculation No. 2 (2024), highlighting cycles of creation and resistance within architectural contexts. Frequently, Liu does not dictate meaning but encourages dialogue, stating, ‘Art has zero tolerance for mediocrity’ and emphasising the shared quest for meaning between artist and viewer.

The Met Genesis Façade Commission

In 2025, Liu Wei was awarded The Genesis Facade Commission for The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, the first appointment by a mainland Chinese artist for the museum’s Beaux-Arts facade.

Liu Wei Exhibitions

Liu Wei has been the subject of solo and group exhibitions at institutions worldwide. Below is a selection of important exhibitions:

Select Solo Exhibitions

• Palazzo Diedo, Venice (2024)
• Long Museum, Shanghai (2020)
• Cleveland Museum of Art (2019)
• Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing (2015)
• Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam (2014)

Select Group Exhibitions

• Venice Biennale, Italy (multiple editions, most recently 2019)
• Lyon Biennale (2015, 2007)
• Shanghai Biennale (2016, 2010, 2004)
• Gwangju Biennale (2010)
• Guangzhou Triennial (2012, 2008, 2005, 2002)

To discover upcoming shows and exhibitions by Liu Wei, follow him on Ocula.

Website and More Reading

Liu Wei’s work has been featured in reviews and articles on major contemporary art platforms, including Ocula Magazine. You can read an earlier interview with the artist here and more articles published here.

Liu Wei FAQs

Ocula | 2025