Born in Beijing in 1957, he is considered the father of the Chinese artistic avant-garde. From 1981 to 1993, he worked in the United States where he became an important figure in the art scene. Back in China, he built up a large creative community around him and his works are exhibited in the world’s major museums. In its annual ranking, Art Review magazine named him the most powerful figure in contemporary art in 2011. Ai Weiwei was arrested by Chinese police on April 3, 2011, which caused a wave of outrage around the world. He was not allowed to leave China until July 2015.