Born in Nuremberg, Germany, and raised in New Jersey, Kiki Smith emerged as a significant figure in the contemporary art scene during the late 1980s. She is the daughter of sculptor Tony Smith and actress Jane Lawrence, and she established her practice in New York City, where she became a central figure in the downtown art community.

Smith works across a diverse range of media, including sculpture, printmaking, photography, and textiles. Her early figurative work often utilized materials like wax, glass, and paper to examine the human form, while her more recent practice has shifted toward depictions of animals and the natural environment, reflecting on the relationship between humanity and the ecosystem.

Her work continues to be featured in major international exhibitions and institutional surveys. She remains an influential voice in contemporary art, frequently included in thematic exhibitions that examine the lineage of feminist art and the evolution of figurative sculpture.