Famous Artist Gao Zhen Spends His 70th Birthday in Prison

（Rights Defense Network Information Center report）On May 10, 2026，this website learned：famous artist Gao Zhen spent his 70th birthday in prison today。

On August 26, 2024，famous artist Gao Zhen（the elder brother of the Gao Brothers）was criminally detained on suspicion of infringing upon the reputation of heroes and martyrs while returning to China to visit family。He was subsequently formally arrested and prosecuted。On December 14, 2025，the application for bail pending trial filed by the lawyers in Gao Zhen’s case was rejected，and the procuratorate recommended a three-year sentence。His case was heard behind closed doors at the Sanhe City Court in Hebei on March 30, 2026。The Chinese Communist authorities refused to allow family members and EU diplomats to attend the trial。The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed serious concern over the retroactive application of criminal law and the use of criminal measures to punish artistic expression，believing that this undermines the principle of legality。It also expressed deep concern over reports that Gao Zhen’s health deteriorated while he was in custody。

After Gao Zhen was arrested，UK-based writer Ma Jian launched a global petition campaign in support of him，calling on the authorities to release Gao Zhen immediately。The petition campaign has received the signatures and support of nearly 200 writers and artists。At present，his wife remains subject to exit controls; for reasons allegedly related to “national security”，she cannot leave China。Their seven-year-old son，a U.S. citizen，is still unable to return to New York to attend school。

Gao Zhen’s biography：The elder brother among the famous artists known as the “Gao Brothers.” On August 27, 2024，his family received a detention notice from the Sanhe City Public Security Bureau，stating that the charge was suspicion of infringing upon the reputation of heroes and martyrs。The works allegedly involved were the sculptures Execution of Christ、the Miss Mao Series、and Mao Kneeling in Repentance，among other works created years ago by the Gao Brothers「Gao Zhen + Gao Qiang」。At present，his wife and child have been implicated and are unable to go abroad。

The Gao Brothers: elder brother Gao Zhen was born on May 10, 1956。Younger brother Gao Qiang was born in 1962，and both are from Jinan, Shandong。The Gao Brothers are among the most famous Chinese artists to emerge during the period of China’s reform and opening up，and their firm political stance has left its mark on their work。

The Gao family suffered a devastating calamity during the Cultural Revolution launched by Mao Zedong。Their father was from Jinan, the provincial capital on the Shandong coast，and was persecuted to death in 1968, at the height of the “Cultural Revolution.” The two brothers were only 6 and 12 years old, respectively, at the time。It was not until 25 days after their father’s death that their mother and six children learned of the news of his alleged “suicide”，which they have always viewed with suspicion。Later，the Gao family went to Beijing to protest this injustice to the central government。In the end，all they received was a paltry amount of compensation。

Beginning in 1985，the Gao Brothers worked together，engaging in painting、installation、performance、photography and other artistic activities，with their sculptures and paintings in particular often addressing sensitive political issues。But the Gao Brothers have never considered themselves dissidents，believing only that in the course of making art they express their views on society，which may touch upon China’s current system。

In February 1989，while participating in an art exhibition in Beijing，the Gao Brothers happened to sign Fang Lizhi’s open letter to Deng Xiaoping，and were consequently treated as dissidents and subjected to government controls。From 1989 to 2003，they were prohibited from going abroad，and the ban was not lifted until 2004。

In recent years，the Xi Jinping authorities have continuously tightened controls over the speech of domestic dissidents and public intellectuals。In April 2018，the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress passed the Heroes and Martyrs Protection Law，aimed at holding citizens legally responsible for insulting or defaming the names、images、reputations and other attributes of heroes and martyrs，and it took effect on May 1 of the same year。Gao Zhen was arrested on this charge。His case was heard behind closed doors on March 30, 2026。

This website will continue to follow Mr. Gao Zhen’s situation。