Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Chinese Dissident Artist Gao Zhen Sentenced Over Mao Sculptures
Gao Zhen is a 70-year-old artist known for making sculptures that criticize former Chinese leader Mao Zedong.
A court in China sentenced him to three years in prison.
The court said he defamed national heroes and martyrs.
Gao made the artworks between 2005 and 2009.
The law used against him began in 2018 and was strengthened in 2021.
Gao’s wife said he plans to appeal the decision.
A rights group said the trial was unfair because it was closed and the law was applied to older artwork.
The group and Gao’s family are calling for his release.
A Chinese court sentenced dissident artist Gao Zhen to three years in prison for allegedly defaming national heroes and martyrs.
Gao was detained in August 2024 while visiting China from the United States and tried in a closed-door hearing earlier this year.
His wife, Zhao Yaliang, said Gao plans to appeal and described the verdict as devastating.
Gao and his brother Gao Qiang created satirical sculptures of Mao Zedong criticizing the Cultural Revolution.
A rights group condemned the case, citing the law’s alleged retroactive application and the exclusion of family and Western diplomats from the trial.
- Who
- Chinese artist and dissident Gao Zhen, his wife Zhao Yaliang, and Chinese authorities; a rights group also criticized the case.
- What
- Gao was sentenced to three years for allegedly defaming national heroes and martyrs over sculptures depicting Mao Zedong.
- When
- The sentence was handed down on Tuesday, August 25; Gao was detained in August 2024 and tried earlier this year.
- Where
- Sanhe City People’s Court in Hebei province, China.
- Why
- Authorities prosecuted Gao under China’s Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs for artworks made between 2005 and 2009.
Family and Rights Advocates
Chinese Authorities
Legality of the prosecution
Family and Rights Advocates
The Chinese Human Rights Defenders group said the law was applied retroactively to artwork created before the law existed and called for Gao’s immediate release.
Chinese Authorities
Chinese authorities charged Gao under the Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs and imposed the maximum three-year sentence.
Due process
Family and Rights Advocates
The rights group said the closed-door trial denied due process, and Gao’s wife said family members and several Western diplomats were barred from attending.
Chinese Authorities
The court conducted a closed trial and issued the sentence; the court did not respond to a request for comment outside business hours.
Meaning of the sculptures
Family and Rights Advocates
Gao’s family and rights advocates view the works as artistic criticism of Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution.
Chinese Authorities
Authorities treated the sculptures as defaming national heroes and martyrs under Chinese law.
- Sentence
- Three years in prison, the maximum sentence for the offense cited.
- Defendant
- Gao Zhen, a 70-year-old New York-based artist.
- Artwork period
- The sculptures at issue were made between 2005 and 2009.
- Law
- China’s Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs, enacted in 2018 and strengthened in 2021.
- Trial
- A one-day closed-door trial took place earlier this year.
- Appeal
- Gao plans to appeal, according to his wife.
- Family restrictions
- Gao’s wife and their U.S.-citizen son said they were blocked from leaving China after his detention.