CultureArtist known for Mao sculptures jailed for slandering ‘heroes and martyrs’

Chinese artist Gao Zhen, known for provocative sculptures of Mao Zedong, has been sentenced to three years in prison for allegedly slandering China’s “heroes and martyrs”. He was detained in 2024 and has already spent two years in custody. His family and rights groups condemned the case, noting that the artworks were made more than a decade before the law took effect.

Gao ZhenMao Zedong sculpturesChinahuman rights

TThe Guardian★★★☆☆2026-08-25 11:53Original