Metropolitan Museum Selects Chinese Artist Liu Wei for 2026 Facade Commission

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has selected Beijing-based artist Liu Wei for its 2026 Genesis Facade Commission, marking his first major institutional exhibition in the United States. Liu will create four large-scale sculptures for the museum's Fifth Avenue facade, set to be unveiled in fall 2026 and on view through June 2027. Known for his multidisciplinary practice and evocative installations that explore urbanization and modernity, Liu's works will engage with themes of rupture, resistance, mending, and creation, using a composite of materials to provoke complex reactions to contemporary life. The commission continues The Met's tradition of integrating contemporary art with its historic architecture and collections, following previous artists like Wangechi Mutu and Jeffrey Gibson. Curators and museum leadership emphasized Liu's innovative approach and the commission's alignment with The Met's future expansion focused on modern and contemporary art, highlighting the project's significance in broadening global artistic perspectives. Liu expressed both excitement and a sense of responsibility, noting the need for extraordinary art that challenges mediocrity.