Sherman Cindy

Cynthia Morris Sherman, born on January 19, 1954, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, is a renowned American artist celebrated for her photographic self-portraits. She creatively depicts herself as various characters, exploring themes of identity and representation.

Sherman was the youngest of five children in the Sherman family. Shortly after her birth, her family relocated to Huntington, Long Island. Her father, Charles, worked as an engineer at Grumman Aircraft, while her mother, Dorothy, dedicated her career to teaching reading to children with learning difficulties. Sherman’s upbringing was deeply influenced by her mother’s nurturing nature and her father’s strict demeanor.

In 1972, Sherman enrolled at Buffalo State University, initially majoring in painting. However, she soon became disillusioned with the medium. She found that photography better suited her desire to express complex ideas, leading her to abandon painting entirely. Sherman’s transition to photography marked the beginning of her exploration of self-portraiture, where she transformed herself into various characters using thrift-store clothing and makeup.

Sherman’s breakthrough came with her seminal work, “Untitled Film Stills,” a series of 70 black-and-white photographs. These images evoke stereotypical female roles from performance media, such as arthouse films and B-movies. Through this series, Sherman challenged societal norms and questioned the constructed nature of identity and representation in media. It established her as a leading figure in contemporary art.

During her college years, Sherman met key figures who would influence her artistic development. Barbara Jo Revelle, her photography instructor, introduced her to conceptual art, while fellow artist Robert Longo encouraged her to document her process of transformation. This laid the foundation for her iconic “Untitled Film Stills” series.

In 1974, Sherman co-founded Hallwalls, an arts center in Buffalo, New York, alongside artists Robert Longo, Charles Clough, and Nancy Dwyer. Hallwalls provided a platform for artists from diverse backgrounds to showcase their work and engage in creative dialogue. Sherman’s exposure to contemporary art at venues like the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Center for Exploratory and Perceptual Arts further enriched her artistic perspective.

Throughout her career, Sherman has been associated with the Pictures Generation, a group of artists including Laurie Simmons, Louise Lawler, and Barbara Kruger, known for their exploration of media culture and representation.

Cindy Sherman’s innovative approach to self-portraiture and her exploration of identity continue to resonate with audiences worldwide. Her work challenges conventional notions of beauty and femininity, inviting viewers to question the narratives imposed by society and media. Sherman’s contributions to contemporary art have earned her international acclaim, and her influence remains significant in the art world today.

Sherman graduated from Buffalo State University with a Bachelor of Arts in 1976, marking the beginning of a prolific career that continues to inspire and provoke thought.