In an artistic career spanning over half a century, Cahn has focused on themes such as violence, conflict, isolation, despair, tenderness and strength. Her works are often regarded as bold and daring due to their provocative scenes, striking contrasts and vibrant colors. Cahn fearlessly explores the primal nature of human beings, regardless of gender, openly showcasing the most primitive behaviors and desires. Yet, her works also transcend reality, offering deep understanding, empathy and acceptance of all human emotions. Amidst brutal violence and raw bestiality, the human spirit perseveres, giving rise to the powerful and optimistic spiritual realm. As demonstrated by the title of her 2019 solo exhibition in Munich, "I as Human," Cahn bravely confronts, contemplates, empathizes, and critiques human behavior, whether it be good or evil, recognizing it as an inherent part of our species.
From the strongly feminist “body paintings” of the 1990s to the broader historical themes of the 2000s, Cahn engages in philosophical explorations of the boundaries between human spaces. These are spaces as large as a wild field and as small as the corner of a room, with a firm eye also on the interior and exterior of the body.
“I’ve been doing empty houses since the beginning. All the houses are up there. Everyone knows their house.” A house is a place of security and privacy, a familiar "inner space" against the unknown outside world. “It’s memory. A lot can be interpreted in a house. It’s an archetype.” （Miriam Cahn in conversation with Hans Ulrich Obrist, CURA. 32, The October Issue, 2019）
In Cahn’s work, houses are endowed with a human psyche and emotions, becoming a metaphor for living individuals. Skyscrapers and battleships are often associated with “masculinity” or “patriarchy” because of their powerful and aggressive appearance, while houses and beds, symbolizing inwardness and warmth, represent the “feminine”.