Kiki Smith: Feminist Sculptor of the Fragile Body
Kiki Smith, born in 1954, stands out as a significant figure in contemporary American art, celebrated for her feminist and body-focused creations across various mediums such as sculpture, drawing, video, printmaking, and tapestry. Originally from Germany, she is the daughter of minimalist sculptor Tony Smith and opera singer Jane Lawrence. After relocating to the United States as a child and attending Hartford Art School briefly, she became largely self-taught. In 1976, she established herself in New York, drawing inspiration from the AIDS crisis of the 1980s and her own experiences with loss. A vocal advocate for feminism and against violence towards women, her work has been showcased worldwide, including at MoMA New York and five Venice Biennales. An upcoming exhibition titled 'Être ici | Maintenant | Partout' is scheduled from June 13 to October 11, 2026, at Mo.Co. Montpellier.
Key facts
- Kiki Smith was born in 1954 in Germany to sculptor Tony Smith and opera singer Jane Lawrence.
- She is largely self-taught after briefly attending Hartford Art School.
- She moved to New York in 1976 and became part of the underground art scene.
- Her work focuses on the human body, fragmentation, fluids, and trauma.
- The AIDS epidemic in the 1980s affected her personally, with her sister dying from the disease.
- She is a feminist activist, supporting women victims of violence.
- Her art incorporates myths, fairy tales, mysticism, science, and dreams.
- She has exhibited at MoMA New York, Palazzo Pitti Florence, and five Venice Biennales.
- Notable works include 'Untitled III (Upside-Down Body with Beads)' (1993), a bronze woman-deer hybrid, and 'Pyre Woman Kneeling' (2002).
- An exhibition 'Être ici | Maintenant | Partout' will be held at Mo.Co. Montpellier from June 13 to October 11, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Kiki Smith
- Louise Bourgeois
- Tony Smith
- Jane Lawrence
Institutions
- MoMA
- Palazzo Pitti
- Venice Biennale
- Pace Gallery
- Hartford Art School
- Mo.Co. Montpellier
Locations
- Germany
- United States
- New York
- Manhattan
- Florence
- Venice
- Montpellier