September 17, 2026–June 8, 2027
The Met
Renowned Beijing-based artist Liu Wei is poised to captivate audiences with The Genesis Facade Commission, a monumental sculptural installation scheduled for 2026. This highly anticipated exhibition will adorn The Met’s Fifth Avenue exterior with four grand sculptures, reflecting Liu’s distinctive approach of blending raw urban fragments, historical elements, and human forms. The works are designed to provoke reflection on cycles of rupture and resistance, challenging viewers to pierce through conventional perceptions with a striking mix of immediacy and refinement.
Since the late 1990s, Liu Wei has been a pivotal figure among Chinese artists redefining conceptual art on their own terms. His multidisciplinary oeuvre spans painting, photography, video, sculpture, and installation, seamlessly merging diverse media with a critical lens on contemporary realities. Known for his masterful manipulation of scale and site-specificity, Liu’s expansive body of work refuses to be confined by traditional art historical categories.
Notably, this project marks Liu Wei’s first major presentation in the United States and the seventh installment in The Met’s prestigious annual commission series. Through his innovative dialogue with materials and motifs, Liu invites audiences to encounter both surprise and revelation, encouraging a deeper engagement with the intersections of history, environment, and corporeal experience.
For art enthusiasts and curious visitors alike, The Genesis Facade Commission: Liu Wei offers a unique opportunity to explore groundbreaking contemporary art that resonates with global themes and personal introspection. Prepare to be awed by Liu Wei’s spectacular urban narratives, skillfully rendered at an impressive scale and charged with cultural significance.
