https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/china-dissident-artist-jailed-for-satirical-mao-sculpturesContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. https://www.live-feeds.com/feed/china-dissident-artist-jailed-for-satirical-mao-sculptureshttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/china-dissident-artist-jailed-for-satirical-mao-sculptures#u49812Thu, 27 Aug 2026 08:55:59 +0000Chinese authorities sentenced artist Gao Zhen to three years in prison for creating satirical sculptures of Mao Zedong. The court convicted Gao of slandering "heroes and martyrs." Rights groups and the United States government have responded to the sentencing, with the US expressing "significant concerns" over the imprisonment of the dissident artist.Why it mattersThe case highlights the legal risks for artists in China who produce work critical of the state or its historical leaders. Sentences for slandering national figures reflect strict controls over political expressio