Kiki Smith

Friedman Benda, New York

Tajan Paris: Mobilier & Bijoux d'Artistes, March 16, 2010 [Lot 134]

Acquired from the above by the present owner

Shonquis Moreno, 'Jewelry in a Virtual World,' American Craft Magazine, 2009

Kiki Smith (b. 1954) is a West German-born American contemporary artist who is known for her thought-provoking sculptures and her non-traditional use of the female nude. Smith, one of the most influential sculptors of her generation, has experimented in many forms of art, including ceramics, tapestry and textiles, printmaking, film, and last but not least, jewelry. Smith believes that living with one’s art during the creative process is essential to existence, so she has crafted herself into an artwork to behold. Her skin is 'liberally tattooed with turquoise rings and stars,' writes art critic Michael Kimmelman. 'She wears strings of necklaces and bracelets stacked atop of one another. You can hear when she is coming because her jewelry jingles.' (Michael Kimmelman, ‘The Intuitionist,’ New York Times Magazine, November 5, 2006) Her art and her being are both invested in the recognition and appreciation of womanhood.