Cindy Sherman’s work explores identity and self-representation through staged self-portraits that challenge conventional notions of femininity and role-playing. The photographs present Sherman transforming herself into a variety of characters, each carefully constructed with makeup, costume, and setting to interrogate social stereotypes and cultural narratives.

Cindy Sherman (Phaidon Focus) provides a concise yet in-depth look at the artist’s career, mapping key series such as the ‘Untitled Film Stills’ and later explorations of historical and fictional personae. The 144-page volume, published in 2014 by National Portrait Gallery Publications, contextualizes Sherman’s impact on contemporary photography and art through critical insights and a focus on her methodical visual strategies.