The Collection
Nick Cave
Soundsuit
Inspired by the Rodney King riots, Cave channeled the turmoil of that period into the concept of a protective suit of armor. Rather than emphasize the brutality, conflict, or racism, Cave wanted to make sure to "make the armor beautiful". In 2025, the work was updated with even more elaborate detailing and visual richness, enhancing its presence and reinforcing its transformation from a symbol of violence into one of empowerment.
Nick Cave is a sculptor, performance artist, dancer, and educator whose practice spans installation, video, sound, and performance. He is best known for his Soundsuits—wearable sculptures of found objects and vibrant ornamentation that conceal race, gender, and class while transforming the body into a vessel of movement and sound. First created in response to the 1991 police beating of Rodney King, the Soundsuits embody both protection and empowerment, blending joy with social critique.
Trained with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Cave integrates choreography into his visual work, often transforming trauma into spaces of healing and renewal. He earned a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute and an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art. In addition to his studio practice, he directs the graduate fashion program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and is represented by Jack Shainman Gallery, New York.
Cave’s major exhibitions include Forothermore (MCA Chicago, 2022), Until (MASS MoCA, 2016), and Nick Cave (ICA Boston, 2014). His work is in public collections including the Studio Museum in Harlem and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. He has received numerous awards, including the Joan Mitchell Foundation Award and the Artadia Award.