Artist Gao Zhen Sentenced to Three Years in Chinese Prison for Mao-Critical Works

Gao Zhen, an artist from New York, has received a three-year prison sentence from the Sanhe City People's Court in Hebei Province, China, due to his artworks that criticize Mao Zedong. He was convicted of defaming a national hero under the Heroes and Martyrs Protection Law, enacted in 2018 to prevent insults to certain historical figures. Gao was arrested in 2024 while visiting family in China and charged accordingly. His sentence is the maximum possible, meaning he will serve an additional year after accounting for time already spent in custody. His wife, Zhao Yaliang, informed The New York Times that the court referenced three sculptures of Mao created by Gao and his brother over 15 years ago as part of the evidence. These pieces portray Mao in various controversial forms, including kneeling and with exaggerated features. This ruling underscores the persistent dangers artists face in China when producing politically charged art.