Kiki Smith is an American artist known for her multidisciplinary work which often explores themes of the human condition, body, and the natural world. Born on January 18, 1954, in Nuremberg, Germany, she moved to the United States as a child. She grew up in an artistic environment; her father was the noted minimalist sculptor Tony Smith.
Smith began her artistic career in the late 1970s and early 1980s, initially gaining recognition in the thriving New York City art scene. She has worked in a variety of media, including sculpture, printmaking, photography, drawing, and textile. Her work is deeply influenced by her interest in anatomy and the bodily themes of birth, death, and regeneration. Smith's pieces often depict the human body with a raw and unfiltered gaze, exploring both its physicality and its narrative potential.
Her approach also incorporates elements of folklore, mythology, and spirituality, weaving these threads into contemporary explorations of femininity, identity, and social justice. Smith's works are notable for their emotional depth and their reflective, sometimes mystical qualities, as well as for their detailed craftsmanship.
Kiki Smith has been the recipient of numerous awards and her works are held in major collections worldwide, including The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.