Kiki Smith

Kiki Smith is among the most significant artists of her generation. Known primarily as a sculptor, she has also devoted herself to printmaking, which she considers an equally vital part of her work. The Museum of Modern Art exhibition Kiki Smith: Prints, Books, and Things and its accompanying catalogue showcase the scope of Smith’s printed art and presents it thematically, focusing on such topics as anatomy, self-portraiture, nature, and female iconography. Reflecting the same thematic arrangement, the Web site and on-site kiosks foster a rich understanding of her innovative body of printed art, illustrating over 135 works in more than 50 comparative groupings. Rather than just offering snapshots of Smith’s artwork, the concept for the interactive exhibition was to create a contiguous and fluid approach that would offer visitors a truly engaging experience. Visitors are transported into the online gallery with the ability to zoom into each artwork, bringing the smallest details of the artist’s work to life. Visitors can explore the virtual “gallery walls,” following a seamless journey through the landscape of each theme, zooming and panning from one view to the next. Through video footage of the artist working in print workshops and details of two prints in various stages of development, visitors experience Smith’s creative process firsthand. People hear Smith, see her working, and are immersed in the layered approach of printmaking.