Born in San Bernardino, California, Kaari Upson studied at the New York Studio School and later earned an MFA from the California Institute of the Arts. She gained significant recognition for her immersive practice that blurred the lines between performance, sculpture, and installation, often utilizing materials like silicone and resin to evoke the human form.

Her signature work, The Larry Project, spanned over a decade and was initiated after she discovered a collection of personal items belonging to a man named Larry. Through this series, she examined the psychological intersections of identity and domesticity. Her work is held in the permanent collections of major institutions including the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.