Sometimes I wish we could discuss artists or anyone for that matter without having to mention their gender. In the case of photographer Cindy Sherman, being a woman is an integral part of her work and therefore, cannot be ignored. Just opened at The Museum of Modern Art is a new exhibit, Cindy Sherman, which chronicles her career from the 1970’s up until the present with over 170 photographs. While I was already familiar with her photos, the show highlights some of her lesser known works including clowns, grotesque photos, her very early out out collage photos, and even films. It is her newer photos of older women that are the showstoppers.  Cindy herself is now in her late 1950’s and her large scale “portraits” of aging society ladies is art imitating life at its finest. But as I noticed later on Madison Avenue, life also seems to be imitating art in regard to these photos. 

What impresses me the most about Cindy Sherman is that she still does everything herself.  The wardrobe styling, make up, modeling, and all photography is done without the help of assistants which is commonplace with most artists and photographers of her stature. She says that what she does is so private that she’d be embarrassed to have an assistant around the studio. Now that’s dedication.  Cindy Sherman will be on exhibit through June 11, 2012 and would make an excellent activity for art lovers of any gender. 

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic