I trust my work. It’s a collaboration with the material, and when it’s viewed, it’s a collaboration with the world.
– Kiki Smith
German-born daughter of American sculptor Tony Smith, Kiki is a dynamo of art and political activism, a woman on fire. Often classified as a “feminist artist,” Kiki’s work far surpasses any standard label that anyone could possibly give it.
The symbolism and the meaning are more than just about female empowerment, it’s about human empowerment, and the methods through which she achieves this are both striking and beautiful.
Known predominately for her “Body Art” series, she turned typical images of feminine beauty on its head. She’s fled from the over-sexualized, over-standardized visions of women and created a whole new perception which is more real and more raw and more inspiring than what’s been seen.
For her, art is something that moves from your insides into the world, and her sculptures, prints, and installations tell a unique tale of longing, giving voice to many women who have been ignored throughout history – witches, for example, are a common theme in her work.
Her pieces often touch on themes of birth and regeneration and the inner workings of the human body. Kiki Smith stands for the real beauty of women, not the generic one-size one-personality beauty that the media so often portrays, but a more genuine variety that espouses just that: variety.
She brings value not only to the outside of the feminine form, but the inside, and encourages the world to celebrate it openly and honestly, without shame or fear. Our soul’s one purpose is to expand! Our body is not our limit and the beauty that exists inside us all can only grow when we believe in it. I invite you to celebrate your body today.
Forget the struggle, no thinking, no force needed. Just be present and be open to beauty with every passing moment. –
