Nick Cave Bio

Nick Cave was born in Fulton, Missouri in 1959. A fabric sculptor, dancer, and performance artist, Cave began his work experimenting with fabrics using hand-me-downs from his older siblings. In 1982, he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Kansas City Art Institute. He also has experience as a dancer, training with Alvin Ailey. Cave is best known for his bright and whimsical wearable fabric sculptures, called Soundsuits, which conceal race, class, and gender from the viewer. Currently living in Chicago, Cave works at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago as a Professor for the graduate fashion program.

Artist Statement