5. Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman was born in 1954 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey (New York). She is an American film maker and photographer, most famous for her portrait photography of herself. Her work has helped raise questions about the role and representation of women in today's society, the media and the nature of the creation of art.

       Sherman's photography work often involves her creating a character and taking on a new identity in order to take the photographs she wants. As she works alone and uses herself in her work, she has to take on several roles including author, director, make-up artist, hair stylist, wardrobe director and model. The majority of her photos are shot in her studio. When creating these photos of specific characters, she usually works in series, changing outfits and facial expressions throughout each shoot until she gets a series of images she is happy with. Cindy Sherman doesn't consider her photos to be self-portraits because part of the process of setting up her shoots involve her creating a different character to herself and taking on a different identity.

       Even though Cindy Sherman doesn't consider herself to be a feminist, there are elements of her work which call this into question. For example, many of her pieces such as the 1981 Centrefolds, draws the public’s attention to how women are stereotyped in films, magazines and on television.