Geneve-Paris, 12 May 2026. On Sunday, May 10, 2026, was Gao Zhen’s 70th birthday, and he spent it in a Chinese prison.
On August 26, 2024, Gao was arrested for “slandering heroes and martyrs.” He stood trial for a single day in March 2026, and he remains detained almost two years after his arrest, all for making art.
Gao Zhen and his brother, Gao Qiang — known internationally as the Gao Brothers — are celebrated for their bold works critiquing authoritarianism, censorship, and the Chinese government’s manipulation of history. Their art confronts the repressive power of a system in which political authority extends into culture itself, determining what may be publicly remembered, depicted, or expressed. That is precisely why Gao Zhen is being punished.
The Chinese government claims that his works, such as Miss Mao, The Execution of Christ, and Mao’s Guilt “defame” national heroes. These satirical pieces, inspired by historical paintings, critically question how the Chinese government elevates rulers into idealized symbols, curates a mythologized history, and erases dissenting interpretations. When Gao was arrested, officials confiscated more than 100 of his artworks, many of which had never been publicly exhibited in China.
The charge against him is as unjust as it is absurd. The law under which Gao has been prosecuted was enacted in 2018, approximately 10 years after the cited works were created. Since its passage, this law has been weaponized to silence dissent and intimidate artists, writers, and critics.
Meanwhile, Gao’s family suffers collective punishment. Although Gao and his wife are lawful permanent residents of the United States and his son is a US citizen, his wife and son have been barred from leaving China to return home since his arrest. They now live under constant state surveillance.
Gao has endured extended solitary confinement for around 20 days, and his health is deteriorating. He struggles to walk due to severe knee problems and has had to use a wheelchair for at least three months to meet his lawyer. He temporarily lost vision in both eyes and suffers from a respiratory illness. Officials have barred his wife from sending essential medication, and he has not received regular medical care.
Gao has faced repeated punishments during his detention in retaliation for his peaceful expression. After dissident artist Ai Weiwei published a letter from him, officials cut off Gao’s access to send or receive correspondence. His wife has been denied contact with him since May 2025 — a restriction she describes as punishment for public communication.
Art is not a crime. But it is a powerful way to question tyranny. Authoritarian regimes recognize the transformative power of art as a tool for dissent and a conduit for change; art can reach audiences and challenge official narratives where regimes have closed all other channels. Consequently, they systematically persecute, repress, or censor artists to silence political dissent.
We call on the Chinese government to:
– Immediately and unconditionally release Gao Zhen, in accordance with international human rights law and China’s own legal obligations.
– Swiftly lift exit restrictions imposed on his wife and son and cease all forms of punishment against his family.
– Ensure that Gao Zhen can return home safely and exercise his rights free from surveillance, harassment, or reprisals.
We also respectfully urge the United States government to raise Gao Zhen’s case with the Chinese government in all future engagements, including directly with Xi Jinping at the planned summit in May 2026, and to seek concrete commitments from the highest levels toward his release.
We, the undersigned artists, musicians, writers, human rights advocates, and cultural leaders, stand in firm solidarity with Gao Zhen and his family: