From 1981 to 1993, he lived in the United States, mostly in New York City.[9] He studied briefly at Parsons School of Design.[12] Ai Weiwei attended the Art Students League of New York from 1983 to 1986, where he studied with Bruce Dorfman, Knox Martin and Richard Poussette-Dart.[13] He later dropped out of school, and made a living out of drawing street portraits and working odd jobs.