Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman was born in 1954 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. She grew up with her four siblings on Long Island. She studied art State University College at Buffalo. After becoming bored with the limitations of painting, Sherman turned to photography. 

Sherman is considered one of the most important and influential contemporary artists.

For over thirty years she has been her own model. However, the photographs are not self portraits. She says that the characters are so unlike her that they are the opposite of her. She draws her inspiration from movies, TV, magazines, internet, art history. Sherman also makes films. She has become successful female photographer. An image from her 1981 series Centerfold sold for $3.9 million.

I prefer Sherman’s early work. I like the black and white photographs. I particularly like the series she did as a housewife. I used it as inspiration for a charcoal self portrait. Sherman says this about the her art process, “Suddenly the reflection I’m looking at is not at all me. Suddenly it’s like a phantom that’s just popped out of the mirror, and that’s when I know the character is right on. There have been moments where I remember this thing suddenly appearing and I can’t believe that’s me!”