Cindy Sherman is an American photographer and film director who has become one of the most influential artists of her generation. Born in 1954 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, Sherman grew up in Huntington, Long Island. She attended the State University of New York at Buffalo, where she studied painting and photography.
Sherman's work is known for its exploration of identity and gender roles. She often uses herself as a model in her photographs, creating elaborate costumes and makeup to transform herself into different characters. Her work has been exhibited widely around the world, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
In 1995, Sherman was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship for her groundbreaking work. She has also received numerous awards from institutions such as the Guggenheim Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2012, she was honored with a major retrospective at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
In addition to her photography, Sherman has directed several short films and feature-length movies. Her first feature film was Office Killer (1997), which premiered at Cannes Film Festival. Her other films include The Smiling Madame Beudet (2002) and Welcome to Me (2014).
Sherman currently lives and works in New York City.