Free Ai Weiwei is a drawing in white pencil on black card, integrating four equilateral crosses in its upper section, alongside a collaged flying dove. Dated 16 May 2011, the work features the inscriptions: 'for arts sake'; 'FREE Ai Weiwei'; 'Free him NOW!'

Free Ai Weiwei was published on 18 May 2011 in The Times as part of a campaign of solidarity for the artist and activist Ai Weiwei, launched following his 81-day imprisonment by Chinese authorities on 3 April 2011 on alleged suspicion of economic crimes.

As reported by the international press, Ai Weiwei was among the dozens of activists and dissidents targeted, arrested or detained on unsubstantiated charges and for their anti-governmental positions. This was described by campaigners as China's harshest human rights crackdown in over a decade. Ai Weiwei was held under strict conditions, which he described as: 'the toughest situation a human being can be in.'

The campaign brought together personalities from across the international art world and was launched with the support of major UK institutions, including the Serpentine Gallery, Whitechapel Gallery, Lisson Gallery, Hayward Gallery, Somerset House, South London Gallery, Institute of Contemporary Arts and Camden Arts Centre. Alongside artworks, messages of solidarity from leading artists and curators, including Damien Hirst, Sarah Lucas, Anish Kapoor and Tate director Nicholas Serota, were published in The Times.