策展人兼作家，自1992年定居中国以来，她一直致力于中国当代艺术的研究。凯伦以独立实践者的身份开启艺术生涯，并于2012年被正式任命为OCAT西安馆的执行馆长。2021年，她加入德英基金会，领导其学术活动，目前，她负责德英基金会于2022年春季启动的德英策展学者项目。

凯伦组织策划了国内外众多群展和个展，其中包括与艺术家杨振中共同策划的“他是谁？耿建翌作品回顾展”（2022，上海当代艺术博物馆 / 2023，UCCA 北京）、“与材质的表情有关”（2022，中国西安，OCAT西安馆）、“我与你：埃里克·索斯”（2020，中国上海，上海摄影艺术中心）、“墨水之外：中国艺术家作品集”（2019，土耳其伊斯坦布尔，佩拉博物馆）、“摄寻千里：十见天地”（2018，中国上海，上海摄影艺术中心）、同杰弗里•戴奇共同策划的“波普之上”（2016，中国上海，余德耀美术馆）、“醍醐：段建宇、胡晓媛双个展”（2013，中国上海，上海外滩美术馆）以及同西蒙·格鲁姆和徐震共同策划的“真实的东西：来自中国的当代艺术”（2007，英国利物浦，泰特美术馆）。

此外凯伦还在持续地进行创作，其作品涉及关于当代艺术和艺术家的专著以及展览目录等。作为中国当代艺术领域的重要作者，她的重要作品有《九人传：新中国先锋艺术的诞生》（2006，Scalo/2008，Timezone 8）和三卷《发光体：亲历中国当代艺术现场》（2011/2013/2015，后浪出版公司/尤伦斯当代艺术中心）。

Resident in China since 1992, Karen Smith is a curator/writer focused on contemporary art practices relevant to China. Starting her career as an independent practitioner, Smith was appointed founding director of OCAT Xi’an contemporary art centre in 2012. In 2021, Smith joined De Ying Foundation, to lead its academic initiatives, where she currently runs the foundation’s Curatorial Fellowship, launched spring 2022.

She has curated numerous exhibitions in China and abroad including: “Who is He? A Retrospective of Geng Jianyi’s Works” (co-curated with artist Yang Zhenzhong) Power Station of Art (PSA), Shanghai 2022; UCCA, Beijing 2023;  “About Material Expression”, OCAT Xi’an, 2022; “The Space Between Us: Alec Soth”, Shanghai Center of Photography (SCoP), Shanghai, 2020; “Out of Ink”, Pera Museum, Istanbul, 2019; “Social Geography: Journeys with a Camera Across China”, SCoP, Shanghai, 2018; “OVERPOP” (with Jeffrey Deitch), YUZ Museum, Shanghai, 2016; “A Potent Force: Duan Jianyu and Hu Xiaoyuan”, Rockbund Art Museum (RAM), Shanghai, 2013; “The Real Thing” (with Simon Groom, Xu Zhen), Tate Liverpool, 2007.

Smith is the author of several books on China’s contemporary art scene, most notably Nine Lives: The Birth of Avant-Garde Art in New China, Scalo 2006/Timezone8 2008; the three-volume series As Seen; Notable Artworks by Chinese Artists, Post-Wave Publishing/UCCA (2011/2013/2015). She has also produced artist texts for an extensive list of exhibition catalogues and artist monographs.