Cindy Sherman: an artist to know

If you’re not familiar with artist Cindy Sherman, it’s time you learn. As one of the most recognized, important, and influential artists in contemporary art, she has brown a new level of eloquence and exploration to the artworld in her amazing work.

Working as her own model for more than thirty  years, Sherman has captured herself in a range of guises and personas, using various media, inspirations, themes, and attraction.

Lucky for us, she’ll be featured at the Museum of Modern Art starting in February.

Cindy Sherman (American, b. 1954) is one of the most photographers of the late twentieth century. Although she is largely her own model, these photographs of hers are not self-portraits.  Although, the majority of her photographs are pictures of her, however, these photographs are most definitely not self-portraits.

Instead, Sherman is bringing commentary to the viewer, through the role of the artist, the role of the photographer, the role of the woman, and the role of art.

Sherman has said that, “”It wasn’t until college that I had any concept of what was going on in the art world. My idea of being an artist as a kid was a courtroom artist or one of those boardwalk artists who do caricatures. My parents had a book of, like, the one hundred one beautiful paintings, which included Dali and Picasso among the most recent artists.” These, I can only assume, inspired her greatly.

Her works of art are carefully constructed. Sherman aims to communicate tot he viewer that these are not her; instead, they are portraits of actual people. Not herself. She takes the time to depersonalize them, making them no one and everyone.