Summary
- CART Department is bringing “Ai Weiwei LEGO Story” to Free Parking at 16 Morton Street from April 24 to May 3, featuring the artist’s rare BMW LEGO art car alongside his famous ‘Zodiac’ and ‘After’ series
- The exhibition offers a unique look at how Weiwei turned a past censorship battle with LEGO into a global creative movement
Larry Warsh’s CART Department is bringing a significant cultural moment to downtown Manhattan this spring. From April 24 to May 3, 2026, the Free Parking gallery garage at 16 Morton Street will host the “Ai Weiwei LEGO Story” exhibition. It’s a rare chance to see a concentrated collection of the artist’s work, including his famous BMW LEGO art car.
The centerpiece is that BMW art car, which has not been seen by the public in over a decade. It first gained notoriety at the Brooklyn Museum during a controversy between the artist and the LEGO company in 2015. At that time, LEGO refused to fulfill a bulk order for the artist, claiming a policy against using their products for political statements. Weiwei was creating portraits of political dissidents and human rights activists and he accused the company of censorship. The backlash was massive, and it sparked a global campaign where fans donated their own bricks to help him finish his project. Eventually, LEGO admitted they were wrong and changed their policy.
Beyond the car, the exhibition showcases how Weiwei uses these plastic bricks as an exercise in accumulation. It is a creative method that mirrors the repetitive and modular nature of his most iconic large-scale installations. The show includes his ‘Zodiac’ LEGO series and pieces from his ‘After’ LEGO series, where he reimagines famous paintings by masters like Van Gogh, Monet, and Warhol using colorful bricks.
Before the exhibition officially opens to the public, there is a special evening event on Thursday, April 23, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM ET. It is titled ‘In Conversation with Ai Weiwei,’ featuring a dialogue between the artist and Orville Schell, the Director of the Center on U.S. China Relations.
For those who want to dive deeper into the history, you can pick up books like ‘Weiwei-isms’, ‘Humanity’ and the newly released ‘Ai Weiwei Handbook’ while at the gallery.
Free Parking
16 Morton St.
New York, NY 10014
