Kiki Smith's new exhibition 'Flight' at Galerie Lelong in Paris presents a collection of bronze sculptures, stained glass works, prints, and drawings centered on birds. The show features recurring avian figures such as eagles, owls, and doves, exploring themes of migration, transformation, and the symbolic weight birds carry across cultures and mythologies. The exhibition runs from May 21 through July 11, 2026.
This exhibition matters because it continues Smith's decades-long investigation into the relationship between humans and the natural world, using birds as vessels to examine how we project meaning onto nonhuman life. By employing bronze and stained glass—materials historically tied to devotion and monumentality—Smith bridges permanence and impermanence, inviting viewers to reflect on the connections between the earthly and the celestial. 'Flight' underscores the enduring power of avian symbolism in contemporary art and Smith's unique ability to merge the corporeal with the spiritual.