Think outside the box at an exhibition inspired by Ai, Rebel

This is a guest post from Columbia City Gallery.

In partnership with the Seattle Art Museum, Columbia City Gallery presents Answer as Question, a juried exhibition inspired by Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei.

Juried by José Carlos Diaz, SAM’s Susan Brotman Deputy Director for Art, Answer as Question invites artists and audiences to lean into investigation as a form of artistic expression. Featured pieces respond to contemporary artist Ai Weiwei’s retrospective curated by FOONG Ping, SAM’s Foster Foundation Curator of Chinese Art.

Inspired by Ai Weiwei’s iconoclastic questioning of authority, Columbia City Gallery and SAM invited artists to channel Ai’s investigative spirit and submit work that reflects the theme Answer as Question. Artists were encouraged to practice and ignite inquiry, emphasize work rooted in research, and uncover obscured perspectives.  

Out of over 500 works submitted, 31 pieces from artists across the US are on view at Columbia City Gallery through August 31. From the selected works, three stood out to the jurors for their powerful engagement with the exhibition’s themes and their ability to embody Ai Weiwei’s spirit of investigation. Each top submission takes a distinct approach—whether through political critique, material inquiry, or personal sacrifice—yet all three artworks share a commitment to asking urgent questions that reverberate beyond the gallery walls. 

Immunity by Amber Aguirre  

“Immunity explores the consequences of a politically biased Supreme Court that has effectively granted the President unchecked power—placing him above the law and edging the nation toward authoritarianism. In the sculpture, a rat serves as the President, seated on a throne reminiscent of Game of Thrones, symbolizing absolute rule. Surrounding him are six kneeling conservative Supreme Court justices, depicted kissing his ring in a gesture of submission and complicity. Beside the throne stands a “Navy SEAL” figure, representing the president’s ability to command military or paramilitary force without accountability—even to the point of ordering unlawful acts such as murder. – Amber Aguirre  

Amber Aguirre is a child of immigrants and a child of the arts. Hearing her parents share their powerful Holocaust survival stories instilled in her the necessity of speaking up against intolerance and on behalf of the silenced. Her forays into art practice and theory since her youth equipped her with potent methods to communicate outside of language.  

Aguirre’s artistic process always begins with an idea, often related to a topic that upsets her. Touching on urgent issues from disability access to the broader political climate, Aguirre combines skillful technique, metaphor, and cheeky pop culture references into accessible, narratively rich sculpture that speaks volumes. 

The Search for Purple by Madeleine Marino 

“The Search for Purple is inspired by Ai Weiwei’s Snake Ceiling. Just as Ai documented the hidden realities of the Sichuan earthquake, I investigated the often-invisible systems behind ceramic glaze materials. Mineral supply chains are volatile, with costs and availability shifting according to global markets and politics. This year-long experiment in recreating purple glaze highlights both the fragility and persistence of creative practice—reminding us that questioning and adaptation are what allow us to continue.” Madeleine Marino (condensed from full artist statement) 

As a trained scientist from New York City, questioning is second nature to Madeleine Marino. From the research lab to her analysis of social forces, she intuitively formulates questions and pursues them with a single-minded focus. In The Search for Purple, Marino applies experimentation and perseverance to cut through uncertainty.  

Her use of miniaturization in clayworking allows her greater flexibility to approach a chosen challenge from many angles, while her research into the murky global mineral trade demands tenacity in the face of obfuscation. Through her serpentine work, Marino speaks to the surprising journey of inquiry and the pressing urgency of engagement in the search for answers. 

What You Owe by Jess Cheng  

“Ai Weiwei’s work is often political and speaks to personal sacrifice. This work consists of letters from the IRS demanding payment and the names and ages of Palestinians killed with US tax dollars. In this work I reflect on my own complex position within the US as an immigrant, a taxpayer, and a dissident. War Tax Resistance is a form of protest in which one withholds some or all of their taxes, half of which goes towards the military and weapons of war.” – Jess Cheng  

Growing up in rural Arkansas as one of the few Chinese Americans in their community, Jess Cheng understood from an early age that they never had the option to be invisible. Despite the difficulties of growing up in that environment, the experience taught them to not be afraid of speaking up.

What You Owe is a meditation on sacrifice. Cheng speaks about their process as an aspect of meditation, where the repetition of motions allows them to enter a meditative state. In their piece, Cheng lists out every name to spend time with all those who have been killed in Gaza, and to remind viewers that it often takes time to pay attention to something. 

Together, the top three works—alongside the 28 other pieces on view—demonstrate how artists continue to push inquiry into public life, echoing Ai Weiwei’s call to question authority and uncover silenced perspectives.

Experience Answer as Question at Columbia City Gallery through August 31, and Ai, Rebel at the Seattle Art Museum through September 7.

Julia Azarcon, Gallery Manager of Columbia City Gallery.

Artwork image credits:

Immunity by Amber Aguirre  

The Search for Purple by Madeleine Marino 

What You Owe by Jess Cheng  

Explore three key moments of Ai, Rebel

Over 130 pieces by contemporary artist Ai Weiwei now grace the Seattle Art Museum galleries in the Ai, Rebel exhibition. Organizing a 40-year retrospective is a massive undertaking; this robust collection cannot be haphazardly thrown on the walls or placed in random corners. Luckily, the exhibition was at the helm of FOONG Ping, Foster Foundation Curator of Chinese Art, who arranged the diverse group of works with the utmost care. Here are three key moments she cultivated for the ultimate Ai, Rebel experience. 

Rooted in Ai’s History

Stepping off the escalator, guests are greeted by an enormous tree constructed of gnarled wooden branches and ancient trunks. Comprised of salvaged wood of various species, the tree represents the myriad experiences that molded Ai into who he is today. Surrounded by black-and-white photographs captured early in his career, along with a touching poem by his father about human connection in the face of adversity, the space introduces us to Ai’s personal and professional identity.

Challenging ‘Made in China’ Mentality

Enveloped by dark blue walls and dimmed lighting, the mood shifts in the Real Fakes gallery. At first glance, the arrangement of blue-and-white porcelain look like relics of the past—but a closer look at the object labels reveals Ai’s replicas are displayed side-by-side with actual 18th-century examples from SAM’s collection. This double-take confronts us with the question of why we assign more value to the original versus the copy. By highlighting the extraordinary skills of Chinese artisans, Ai’s porcelain works challenge us to rethink assumptions about the quality of Chinese-made goods.

Engaging with the Present

Much of Ai Weiwei’s practice is grounded in Chinese history and antiquities. However, Ai is not only interested in the past. Ai, Rebel concludes with a black-and-gold wallpapered hallway spotlighting artworks of various mediums: marble surveillance cameras, large-scale LEGO reconstructions of two pages from the Mueller Report, and a rusted mailbox representing claims of mail-voting fraud. Ai’s reflection on the fragility of American democracy highlights his engagement with today’s political crises, which extend beyond the exhibition.

—Sara Butler, Marketing Copywriter

Photos by Alborz Kamalizad and Chloe Collyer

Stand with Us: A Message from SAM’s Director and CEO

Usually on April 1, we post something light on social media for April Fools’ Day—a playful faux exhibition announcement or cheeky art joke. But this year, there’s nothing funny about the cultural sector being under attack.

In recent weeks, there have been Executive Orders and actions aimed at the Smithsonian, the Kennedy Center, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and other cultural organizations and universities. The reality is that museums, artists, and cultural institutions across the country are under siege. 

These moves are troubling because they are an attempt to diminish the role of the arts, humanities, and higher education. Museums, artists, and the communities we serve are facing increasing scrutiny. 

At SAM, our mission and values remain unchanged. We believe museums matter—as spaces of dialogue, community connection, creativity, and activism. We believe in truth. In inclusion. In history. In facts. We believe in public service. 

That’s why we’re taking this opportunity to speak out and ask our community to stand with us and support the arts. Because the arts matter and bringing together our community matters, we’re offering everyone 50% off admission for the entire month of April to the Seattle Art Museum. This is our way of opening our doors even wider—inviting people in to experience the power of art and stand with us in supporting cultural spaces during a time when they’re being challenged.

It couldn’t be a better time to visit the Seattle Art Museum, too: Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei is now on view. This exhilarating and expansive retrospective explores 40 years of the globally renowned Chinese artist’s life and career as he questions forms of power, disrupts artistic canons, and challenges political authoritarianism. We invite everyone to come see the show, be inspired, and stir up some good trouble. 

Because the best way to push back is to show up. 

– Scott Stulen, Illsley Ball Nordstrom Director and CEO

Photo credit: Installation view of Study of Perspective—White House, Eiffel Tower, San Marco, Hong Kong, Long Island City, Mona Lisa, Tiananmen Square, Bern (detail), 1995–2011, Ai Weiwei. Eight (8) black-and-white photographs, 19 11/16 x 29 9/16 in. each. Photo: Chloe Collyer.

World-Renowned Artist Ai Weiwei Comes to SAM in 2025

Today, SAM made a major announcement: In 2025, the Seattle Art Museum will present the first US retrospective in over a decade of the work of Ai Weiwei. Titled Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei, it will explore over 100 works from across four decades, offering visitors from all over the world a rare opportunity to engage with the celebrated conceptual artist’s wide-ranging body of work. The exhibition will be on view at the Seattle Art Museum in downtown Seattle and is curated by FOONG Ping, SAM Foster Foundation Curator of Chinese Art. This also marks the artist’s first solo exhibition in Seattle.

The news arrived via a co-exclusive by ARTnews and The Seattle Times.

ARTnews highlighted the unique curatorial perspective that FOONG will take: “Unlike many curators who’ve worked with Ai, Foong does not specialize in contemporary art. She mainly works with age-old Chinese works presented by the museum, and she said this moved to her to explore the art history that guides Ai. ‘My intention is to find some language that might describe trends and patterns, the things that have stood the test of time, the things that he thought about in his first decade and are still with him decades on,’ she said.”

And in The Seattle Times, José Carlos Diaz, SAM’s Susan Brotman Deputy Director for Art, called this a “major moment” for the city: “Seattle is due for a major exhibition of his dynamic, large-scale work,” he said. “Ai is a global icon whose work resonates with so many types of audiences; this exhibition will make SAM a destination for locals and visitors alike who will want to engage with his work.”

Exhibitions of Ai Weiwei’s work have brought sold-out crowds around the world, so the museum anticipates high demand and is making preparations for the best visitor experience. To increase access, SAM planned an extended run of six months, beyond its usual exhibition timeframe. Timed ticketing will increase access to the museum and improve flow in the galleries. Ticket release dates will be announced in advance so that visitors can plan ahead. SAM members will have additional opportunities for access, including early access to reserve timeslots, member-only days, and member-exclusive events.

– Rachel Eggers, SAM Associate Director of Public Relations

Photo: Gao Yuan / Courtesy of Ai Weiwei Studio.

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