Sui Jianguo

Sui Jianguo, born in 1956 in Qingdao, Shandong Province, is one of the most important contemporary Chinese sculptors. He studied at the Shandong Institute of Fine Arts and the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing. In the early 2000s, Sui was among the first artists to establish a studio in the now-famous 798 art district, contributing significantly to its popularity.

Sui gained international recognition through his "naturalistic sculptures" made from rocks, boulders, and steel, which introduced him to the global art scene. His breakthrough came in 1997 with his iconic Mao suit sculpture, a work that mimicked Chairman Mao’s jacket and brought him widespread acclaim. Art critics have praised him as a pioneer in Chinese sculpture, known for reflecting China's economic transition through his art. Sui's work often engages with Maoist iconography as a way to explore the persistence of cultural values while adapting to modernity and technological change.