Blood Pool

ABOUT THIS WORK

A figure lies curled on the floor, its form made from wax, gauze, and pigment. This sculpture, "Blood Pool," challenges traditional ideas of human representation by focusing on the body as a site of biological and social struggle. The wax, a material known for its malleability, gives the figure a startlingly flesh-like texture and color. While the artist used casts of live models as a starting point, the figure's fetal pose and exposed spine transform it into a primal symbol. It invites viewers to consider themes of individual and collective health, disease, and the complex realities of life and death, particularly resonating with the dual potential of human blood during the AIDS era.

DETAILS

Artist: Kiki Smith
Date: 1992
Medium: Wax, gauze, and pigment
Location: Art Institute of Chicago
Dimensions: 106.7 × 61 × 40.6 cm (42 × 24 × 16 in.)
Collection: Contemporary Art
Culture: United States
Credit line: Twentieth-Century Discretionary Fund

ART MOVEMENTS

Postmodernism

LOOK CLOSER

What to Notice

Five details hide in plain sight. Pick one and we’ll show you exactly where to look.

← → step through · Esc to close

3 details are marked · pick a number

01Whole painting

Curled fetal pose

The figure curls on its side with knees drawn up and head bowed. The pose can read as sleep, collapse, or a body curled in on itself.

02

The bowed head

The smooth, hairless head drops forward toward the floor, and no face can be seen. With the face hidden, the figure feels anonymous and vulnerable.

1 of 3 on the painting

03

Skin-like wax surface

Look across the shoulder and upper arm, where the pale yellow wax is wrinkled and lumpy like stretched skin. The wax holds the look of living flesh, yet it feels fragile.

2 of 3 on the painting

04

Dark red lower leg

The lower leg and forearm near the bottom are stained deep red-brown, like dried blood. The color echoes the title and suggests injury or illness.

3 of 3 on the painting

05Whole painting

Body on a gray plinth

The figure lies directly on a low gray platform, with the wood parquet floor beyond it. Seen from above, it looks like something that has fallen or been set down.

AUDIO DEEP DIVE

Stand in front of it and listen

The full narration walks you through Blood Pool — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.

Get the free app

0:00Preview · 0:30Free preview · 0:30 Hear the full story in the app

THE ARTIST