Prominent St. Louis Sculpture, China China, Relocating to Lambert

The St. Louis Airport Commission formerly approved an agreement that will relocate a prominent sculpture to Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

The St. Louis-based Gateway Foundation will loan Lambert the sculpture, China China, by Chinese artist Zhu Wei (2003), for 10 years with extension options. The sculpture will be displayed by July in the newly renovated Terminal 1 ticketing level lounge, which features a live plant wall, a water feature and new art display cases. The 6-ft-tall bronze sculpture features two ancient Chinese tomb-like figures cast in bronze. The sculpture was most recently installed in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis.

“The Gateway Foundation has made a tremendous impact on the arts and culture scene across St. Louis and we’re thankful and fortunate that Lambert is able to take advantage of this opportunity to showcase an iconic piece of art to our millions of travelers,” said Lambert Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge.  

The Beijing-born artist, Zhu Wei, is well known for his ink paintings, engravings and sculpture. He established his art studio, Zhu Wei Art Den in 1993. His work has been exhibited in Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, New York, Los Angeles, Brussels, Miami, Paris, Madrid and Chicago, among other cities.

The display of China China was endorsed by a seven-member Arts Advisory Committee, which evaluates all major art installations and exhibitions for the Lambert Arts and Culture Program.

Earlier this year, Metro’s Arts in Transit completed the installation of two large ceramic tile murals near its MetroLink station in Terminal 1. Nucleic Life Formation was created by New York artist Amy Cheng. Nine art glass screens were installed in Concourses A & C beginning in 2011. Also that year, the Airport installed an intertwined steel ribbon sculpture, Sensación de Vuelo,by Leonardo Neirman outside Terminal 2. A 41-color terrazzo floor medallion, New Village,by Alicia LaChance was installed just beyond the C Checkpoint in 2012. On-going temporary local exhibitions in the Terminal 1 Lambert Gallery are also part of the program.

About the Gateway Foundation

Founded in 1986, the Gateway Foundation seeks to enrich life and culture in the St. Louis area by supporting efforts to acquire, create, or improve tangible and durable art and urban design. In 2009, the Foundation’s largest project, a two-block sculpture park called Citygarden, opened in downtown St. Louis in the Gateway Mall. From prominent public sites downtown to community college campuses in St. Louis County, the Foundation also has purchased and installed more than 30 sculptures in the area.

Additionally, the Foundation has arranged for and funded the lighting of the Gateway Arch, the Old Courthouse, the Civil Courts Building, the City’s three landmark Water Towers, and other prominent structures, and has funded the building and maintenance of several city playgrounds and parks. More information is available at gateway-foundation.org and citygardenstl.org.