Smith explores the body, mortality, and identity through raw, often anatomical imagery. Her work addresses themes of illness, feminism, and spirituality, later expanding to include animals, mythology, and fairytales—blending visceral realism with symbolic meaning.
Kiki Smith (b. 1954, Nuremberg) grew up in South Orange and is the daughter of sculptor Tony Smith. She briefly attended Hartford Art School before moving to New York City in 1976. There, she joined Collaborative Projects, Inc. (Colab) and began making art, largely self-taught.
Her work has been widely exhibited, including solo shows at the Museum of Modern Art and the Walker Art Center. She continues to live and work in New York.
