Artist Ai Weiwei Lists Minimalist New York City Apartment for $2 Million

Contemporary artist and activist Ai Weiwei has put his New York City apartment on the market for a cool $2 million. Currently based in Portugal, the Chinese-born talent, who recently made news for recreating Claude Monet’s Water Lilies using 650,000 LEGO bricks, originally acquired the West Chelsea pied-à-terre in 2008 for a reported $1.7 million. The sale comes as Weiwei is gearing up for his first design-focused exhibition, “Ai Weiwei: Making Sense,” which will open at the Design Museum in London on April 7.

The artist’s 1,400-square-foot Manhattan residence is located on the eighth floor of a prewar building known as Loft 25 and is equipped with one bedroom and two full baths—a rarity for an apartment of its size—plus a walk-in closet. The minimalist unit features hardwood floors, 12-foot ceilings, and is drenched in sunlight thanks to its south-facing orientation (which means it overlooks the historic London Terrace complex across the street). There’s also a revamped kitchen with glossy blue cabinetry and appliances from Liebherr and Bosch.