Kim Althea Gordon (born April 28, 1953) is an American musician, songwriter, and visual artist. Born in
Rochester, New York, Gordon was raised in
Los Angeles, California, and studied art at the
Otis Art Institute. She later rose to prominence as the bassist, guitarist, and vocalist of the New York City-based
alternative rock band
Sonic Youth, which she formed with ex-husband
Thurston Moore in 1981.