The Chicago-based artist Nick Cave is known for creating stunning Soundsuits, fabric sculptures that cover Cave’s body and forces viewers to look beyond his race, gender, and class. Made with bright colors and found objects, Cave’s first Soundsuit was made in 1992 as a response to the Los Angeles police beating of Rodney King in 1991. Decades later, Cave continues to recreate his iconic Soundsuit — which he often also performs in. Featured in galleries from New York, Chicago, Boston, and Washington, D.C. to the Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, and New Zealand, Cave’s whimsical artistry has expanded into an outstanding collection of sculptures and installations. This year, Cave had his bronze statue “Amalgam (Origin)” become part of Michigan’s Meijer Gardens and he was a part of the group exhibition Door to the Cosmos at the Mariane Ibrahim gallery in Chicago. The 66-year-old was also honored this year with several accolades — including the 2025–26 Q+ Art Award from Palm Spring Art Museum, the 2025 Smithsonian Visionary Award from the Smithsonian Craft Show, and a feature in the magazines Art in America and Metro Weekly. Cave’s art continues to inspire people across the globe, and we can’t wait to see what he dreams up next.