Wright Auction

Nick Cave is a renowned American artist, performer, and educator whose wide-ranging practice spans sculpture, installation, video, sound, and performance. He is best known for his iconic Soundsuits—elaborate, full-body wearable sculptures that merge art, dance, and fashion. Made from found and recycled materials, these colorful, textured suits produce sound when worn in motion, and serve as both protective armor and expressive tools. Originally conceived in response to the 1991 police beating of Rodney King, the Soundsuits have become powerful symbols of identity, resistance, and empowerment, addressing themes such as racial profiling, marginalization, and the body in contemporary culture.

Cave’s multidisciplinary background deeply informs his practice: he studied fiber arts and received his BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute (1982), followed by an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art (1989). He also trained as a dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and his deep engagement with movement continues to influence the performative aspects of his work. In addition to his sculptural and performance practice, Cave frequently creates immersive installations and community-based projects that foster social dialogue through art.

Based in Chicago, Cave is a professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he mentors the next generation of artists. His work has been widely exhibited in major institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, among others, and has been featured in international biennials and public art projects around the world.