Kiki Smith Research (so far)

Kiki Smith

Bio:
Kiki Smith was born on Jan.18,1954 in Nuremberg, Germany.
Her father,Tony Smith, was a sculptor.
Her mother, Jane Lawrence, an opera singer.
She had two younger twin sisters, Seton- an artists and photographer who now lives in Paris and
Beatrice-who died of AIDS in 1988
She was raised in S.Orange, New Jersey and moved to N.Y. In 1976.



Method, Style, and Form (work in general):
Uses many different mediums in her artwork, such as: prints on handmade paper, cellulose, terra cotta, bronze, ceramics, glass, porcelain, cloth, and wax.

She works to master every possible technique used in casting and printmaking.


Content of Work:
1980- the death of her father turned her work to themes of mortality and decay, focusing on human
corporeality. (example: hand in jar 1983)

1985- studied to become an emergency medical technician, her studies had a profound impact on her
work. (example: glass stomach 1985)

1990's- her investigation into the body continued into the 1990's, when she introduced the life size
human figures. (example: pee body 1992, tale 1992)


Working Process:
She likes playing around with different media, materials and techniques and to make reference to their different histories.

She believes her art is an artifact of a process and enjoys learning on the job.

She is inspired by curiosity and discomfort.