Kiki Smith and the museum presence in 2026
Published on 08/19/2026 at 15:52 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Kiki Smith has become a central figure in how museums narrate the human body and the natural world. Her large-scale institutional projects and collection holdings show how consistently curators return to her work for this perspective.
The retrospective in Montpellier
At MO.CO. in Montpellier, the exhibition Être ici, Maintenant, Partout (Being Here | Now | Everywhere) presents more than one hundred works by Kiki Smith across three floors, spanning over forty years of production. The show is designed in close collaboration with the artist and centers on the body as a narrative thread through sculpture, textiles, drawings and prints.
MO.CO. emphasizes that the exhibition extends over nearly 1,500 square meters, mapping the relationship between different aspects of Smith's practice, from celestial motifs to anatomically oriented works. Parallel to this show, the institution also stages the group exhibition Under the skin, situating Smith's work among monstrous and mutant forms in contemporary art.
Medical collections meet contemporary art
The University of Montpellier lends around ten anatomical objects from its historic medical collections to Being Here | Now | Everywhere, placing wax and papier-mâché models alongside Smith's works. This collaboration underscores how her long-standing interest in anatomy can converse directly with centuries-old teaching material in a museum context.
A recent art news report notes that the show integrates scientific instruments and historic anatomical reproductions into the display, intensifying Smith's exploration of the body and its meanings over four decades. Against this backdrop, the exhibition functions not only as a retrospective but also as a cross-collection experiment within the museum.
All news and background on Kiki Smith
For further reports on Kiki Smith's exhibitions, collection presence and institutional collaborations, the AD HOC NEWS archive offers additional context and market coverage.
The work core in public collections
Across major museum collections, Kiki Smith is represented with key works that trace her engagement with the body, animals and myth. Her presence in European and US institutions mirrors the breadth of mediums she uses, from bronze and glass to paper and textiles.
Recent collection exhibitions, such as APMA, CHAPTER FIVE – FROM THE APMA COLLECTION at the Amorepacific Museum of Art in Seoul, feature Smith alongside artists like Nam June Paik and Lee Ufan, underlining her position in global contemporary art narratives. Group shows that foreground drawing and print, including institutional projects cited by her galleries, further consolidate this museum footprint.
Current state of the work
Overall, Kiki Smith's work is actively circulating in museum programs and collection displays in 2026, with her retrospective at MO.CO. Montpellier serving as a current anchor while no new additional institutional dates fall into the immediate 30-day window.
Kiki Smith at a glance
- Artist: Kiki Smith
- Medium / Genre: Sculpture, printmaking, drawing and installation
- Born: 1954, Nuremberg, Germany
- Place(s) of practice: Studio practice associated with New York
- Active since: Early 1980s, with growing institutional presence from the late 1980s
- Key work groups: Tapestries with celestial motifs, anatomical sculptures, animal-focused installations, bronze figures and stained-glass works
- Current/last exhibition: Être ici, Maintenant, Partout / Being Here | Now | Everywhere, MO.CO., Montpellier, June 13–October 11, 2026
- Major collections: Notable holdings in European and US museums, including participation in collection shows such as APMA, CHAPTER FIVE – FROM THE APMA COLLECTION at Amorepacific Museum of Art in Seoul
- Awards: Recognized in international art discourse; specific prize listings are not highlighted in the current museum sources consulted
- Next date: currently no announced date in the 30-day window
Frequently asked questions about Kiki Smith
Where can Kiki Smith's work be seen in 2026?
Her major solo exhibition Être ici, Maintenant, Partout at MO.CO. Montpellier runs from June 13 to October 11, 2026, presenting more than one hundred works across three floors.
How does Kiki Smith's work engage with medical collections?
The University of Montpellier lends about ten anatomical objects from its historic medical collections to Smith's MO.CO. retrospective, integrating wax and papier-mâché models with her sculptures and textiles.
In which collection exhibition is Kiki Smith featured in Asia in 2026?
The Amorepacific Museum of Art in Seoul includes works by Kiki Smith in its collection show APMA, CHAPTER FIVE – FROM THE APMA COLLECTION, on view from April 1 to August 2, 2026.
This article was produced with a.i. support and editorially reviewed. All statements without guarantee; auction results, exhibition dates and awards may change at short notice.
