Cindy Sherman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cindy Sherman
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Sherman in 2016
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| Born |
Cynthia Morris Sherman
January 19, 1954 Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Education | State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo |
| Known for | Photographic self-portraits |
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Notable work
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Untitled#96, Untitled#153, Complete Untitled Film Stills, 1977–1980 |
| Spouse(s) |
Michel Auder
(m. 1984; div. 1999) |
| Awards |
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Cynthia Morris Sherman (born January 19, 1954) is an American artist. She is famous for her photographic self-portraits. In these photos, she pretends to be many different characters in various situations.
Her most well-known work is the series Untitled Film Stills. This collection has 70 black-and-white photos. In them, she poses as different female characters from old movies.
Contents
Cindy Sherman's Early Life and School
Cindy Sherman was born in 1954 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. She was the youngest of five children. Her family moved to Huntington, Long Island, soon after she was born. Her father was an engineer, and her mother taught reading to kids.
In 1972, Sherman started studying visual arts at Buffalo State College. She first tried painting. But she felt painting had limits. So, she switched to photography. She realized a camera could help her focus on ideas. She also met Robert Longo there, who encouraged her to photograph herself.
In 1974, Sherman and some friends started Hallwalls. This was an arts center in Buffalo. It was a place for different artists to show their work. She also saw art by other photographers like Hannah Wilke and Eleanor Antin. Sherman is part of a group of artists called the Pictures Generation.
Exploring Photography Through Characters
Sherman often works on photo series. In these, she dresses up in many different costumes. She works alone in her studio. She is the author, director, makeup artist, hairstylist, costume designer, and model for her photos.
Her First Artworks
Bus Riders (1976–2000) is a series of photos. In these, Sherman acts as various people she observed. These photos were first made for a bus company.
Other early works included cutout figures. These were called Murder Mystery and Play of Selves.
In her famous series Untitled Film Stills (1977–80), Sherman looks like actresses from old movies. She said she never thought she was "acting." She wanted the story to come from the character's face.
Many of Sherman's photo series, like the 1981 Centerfolds, show how women are often seen in movies and magazines. She once said, "I feel I'm anonymous in my work." She added, "When I look at the pictures, I never see myself." She finds her characters by changing things like costumes until she finds what she wants.
The Untitled Film Stills Series
The Untitled Film Stills (1977–1980) series made Cindy Sherman famous worldwide. It has 69 black-and-white photographs. In them, she poses in different roles and places. The photos look like scenes from old Italian or American movies.
Sherman did not give titles to these images. This was to keep them open to different ideas. She often showed her characters alone and without much expression.
These photos are smaller than her later works. They are all 8 1/2 by 11 inches. Each one is in a simple black frame. Sherman used her own things as props. Sometimes she borrowed items, like the doggy pillow in Untitled Film Still #11. Many photos were taken in her apartment.
The Untitled Film Stills were taken in different ways:
- The first six photos are a bit blurry.
- Another group was taken in 1978 at a beach house.
- Later in 1978, Sherman started taking photos outdoors in the city.
- She then returned to her apartment to work. She created a character like Sophia Loren from the movie Two Women.
- Some photos were taken during a road trip with her parents. Untitled Film Still#48 (1979), also called The Hitchhiker, was taken by her father.
- The rest of the series was shot around New York. Many showed a blonde "victim" character, common in old mystery films.
The Museum of Modern Art in New York bought the whole series in 1995. Untitled Film Still #21 was named one of the 100 most important photographs by TIME Magazine.
Art in the 1980s and 2000s
After her film stills, Sherman explored other visual styles. These included fashion photos and historical portraits. Her series like Fairy Tales and Disasters were first shown at the Metro Pictures Gallery in New York City.
In 1980, Sherman started using color and larger photo sizes. Her Centerfolds/Horizontals series from 1981 was inspired by fashion magazines. She often posed lying down. She said she hoped some of these photos would seem very psychological.
In 1985, for her Fairy Tales series, she started using fake body parts and mannequins. Between 1989 and 1990, she created History Portraits. These were large color photos that looked like old European paintings.
In the 2000s, Sherman continued to create new series. Her Clowns cycle (2003–2004) used digital photography. This allowed her to create bright backgrounds and combine many characters. In her 2008 Society Portraits, she made characters who seemed to struggle with beauty standards.
Her 2012 exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art included a large photo mural. In this, she changed her face with a decorative background. This made her look like she was in a made-up world. In a 2012 series, she showed large female figures in front of dramatic landscapes. She had photographed these landscapes in Iceland and Capri.
In 2017, she worked on a "selfie" project for W Magazine. She used photo-editing apps to create her Instagram portraits. Since 2019, she has shown self-portraits made into tapestries.
Working with Fashion
Sherman has also worked with fashion brands. These include Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, and Marc Jacobs. In 1983, she created ads for a store called Dianne B. She tried to make the clothes less important in these photos. She also took pictures for Harper's Bazaar magazine in 1993. In 1994, she made postcards for the brand Comme des Garçons.
In 2006, Sherman created ads for designer Marc Jacobs. She also worked with Balenciaga in 2008. In 2010, she designed a piece of jewelry with Anna Hu.
Films and Music Projects
In the early 1990s, Sherman worked with the band Babes in Toyland. She provided photos for their album covers. She also acted in their music video for "Bruise Violet."
Sherman directed her own movie, Office Killer, in 1997. It starred Jeanne Tripplehorn and Molly Ringwald. The film received mixed reviews. Some critics felt it lacked her usual artistic touch.
She also had small roles in other films. She appeared in John Waters' film Pecker. She was also in The Feature in 2008.
In 2009, a documentary called Guest of Cindy Sherman was made about her. Sherman was not happy with the final film.
Art Exhibitions
Sherman's first solo show in New York was in 1980. Her "Untitled Film Stills" were first shown at a non-profit gallery. Her first solo shows in France were in Paris.
Since then, Sherman has shown her work all over the world. This includes the Venice Biennale and the Whitney Biennial. She has had solo exhibitions at many major museums. These include the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.
In 2012, the Museum of Modern Art held a big show called Cindy Sherman. It showed over 170 of her photographs. This exhibition traveled to other museums.
In 2016, Sherman had her first photo gallery in five years. She had taken a break for health reasons. This new series was called "The Imitation of Life." It showed Sherman as aging Hollywood stars. This series was shown in New York, Los Angeles, Berlin, and Columbus, Ohio.
In 2019, the National Portrait Gallery, London, held a large show of her works. In 2024, her first exhibition in Greece was held in Athens.
Cindy Sherman and Feminism
In her 2016 Imitation of Life series, Sherman poses as older actresses. She uses vintage costumes and makeup.
Some art experts say Sherman's "Film Stills" show how women are often seen in art. However, Sherman herself does not say her work is about feminism.
Her Impact on the Art Market
Cindy Sherman's photographs have sold for high prices. In 2011, a print of Untitled#96 sold for $3.89 million. At that time, it was the most expensive photograph ever sold.
Sherman was represented by Metro Pictures for 40 years. She now works with Hauser & Wirth gallery.
Influence on Other Artists
Sherman's work has greatly influenced many modern portrait photographers. One such artist is Ryan Trecartin, who explores identity in his videos and photos. Her influence also reaches painters like Lisa Yuskavage and performance artists like Tracey Ullman.
In 2014, actor and artist James Franco created a series of photos called New Film Stills. In these, he recreated 29 of Sherman's Untitled Film Stills. Many critics did not like Franco's exhibit.
Personal Life
Sherman lived with artist Robert Longo from 1974 to 1980. She married director Michel Auder in 1984. She became stepmother to his daughter, Alexandra, and her half-sister Gaby Hoffmann. They divorced in 1999. She later had relationships with Paul Hasegawa-Overacker and artist David Byrne.
Sherman has lived in Manhattan's Soho neighborhood. She bought two floors in a building overlooking the Hudson River. She uses one floor as her home and the other as her studio. She also owns homes in the Catskill Mountains and East Hampton, New York.
Advocacy Work
Sherman is part of the artistic advisory committee for the Stephen Petronio Company. She is also on the Artists Committee of the Americans for the Arts.
In 2012, she joined Yoko Ono and many other artists to form Artists Against Fracking. This group is against a method of removing gas from underground.
In 2023, Sherman helped choose the first winner of the New Museum’s $400,000 Hostetler/Wrigley Sculpture Award.
Before the 2024 United States presidential election, Sherman was one of many artists who donated art for an online sale. The money raised went to Kamala Harris’ political campaign.
Awards and Recognition
- 1994: Larry Aldrich Foundation Award
- 1995: MacArthur Fellowship
- 1997: Wolfgang Hahn Prize
- 1999: Hasselblad Award
- 2001: National Arts Award
- 2003: American Academy of Arts and Sciences Award
- 2009: Jewish Museum's Man Ray Award
- 2010: Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Arts, London
- 2012: Roswitha Haftmann Prize
- 2013: Honorary doctorate degree from the Royal College of Art, London
- 2017: Inducted into the International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum
- 2020: Wolf Prize in Art
- 2024: Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement
Collections
Works by Cindy Sherman can be found in these art collections:
- Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- The Broad, Los Angeles, CA
- Jewish Museum (Manhattan), New York, NY
- Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
- Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
- Tate Modern, Bankside, London
See also
In Spanish: Cindy Sherman para niños
- Self-portraiture
- List of most expensive photographs
- Nikki S. Lee
