Cindy Sherman
Cindy Sherman - UNTITLED #92 Skate Set Modern Photography
2022

Name: Cindy Sherman - UNTITLED #92 Skate Set Modern Photography
Brand: Cindy Sherman
Rating: 5 (11 reviews)

About the Item

Cindy Sherman - UNTITLED #92 Date of creation: 2024 Medium: Digital print on Canadian maple wood Edition: Open Size: 80 x 20 cm (each skate) Condition: In mint conditions and never displayed This triptych is formed by three skate decks made of 7 ply grade A Canadian maple wood. © Courtesy Cindy Sherman / Hauser & Wirth Untitled #92 is one of Cindy Sherman’s most iconic photographs, part of her Centerfolds series from 1981. The idea was originally to publish these images in Artforum magazine, mimicking the horizontal fold-out format of magazines like Playboy. But instead of showing seductive women, Sherman does the exact opposite—she presents emotionally charged scenes, with women who seem vulnerable, confused, or caught in unsettling situations. In the end, the magazine decided not to publish them, worried that the images could be misunderstood. In Untitled #92, Sherman portrays herself as a young woman lying on the floor, with an expression of fear or distress. It feels like something serious has just happened—or is about to. There’s no clear story, but the image is full of tension, and that ambiguity is part of what makes it so powerful. As with most of her work, Sherman does everything herself: she does the makeup, costumes, sets the scene, and takes the photo. She’s not photographing herself as Cindy Sherman, but as a character she’s created. What’s fascinating is how she plays with the female stereotypes we constantly see in the media—but instead of reinforcing them, she completely flips the script. There's no glamour or desire here—just discomfort, fear, and a narrative the viewer has to piece together. Though the images may seem simple, they’re a powerful critique of how women are represented in visual culture. And that’s a big part of why Cindy Sherman is considered one of the most influential contemporary artists. Works like Untitled #92 have sold for millions at auction and are part of major art collections around the world. ABOUT THE ARTIST Cindy Sherman is an American photographer known for her staged and often grotesque self-portraits that explore the construction of identity and the representation of women in media and art. Born in 1954 in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, Sherman grew up in a middle-class family and attended the State University of New York at Buffalo, where she studied art. Sherman began her career as an artist in the late 1970s, experimenting with conceptual and performance art before turning to photography. Her first series of photographs, Untitled Film Stills (1977-1980), consisted of 69 black-and-white images of Sherman posing as various archetypal female characters from Hollywood films of the 1950s and 60s. The series marked a turning point in photography, challenging the notion of photography as a reflection of reality and instead presenting it as a medium for constructing narratives. Throughout her career, Sherman has continued to explore issues of identity and representation, often by taking on various personas and disguises in her photographs. In the 1980s, she produced a series of works that featured herself as a clown, a centerfold model, and a historical figure, among other roles. The works were often disturbing and subversive, challenging the viewer's expectations and highlighting the artificiality of media images. In the 1990s, Sherman began using prosthetics and other special effects to transform her appearance even more radically. Her series of photographs known as Sex Pictures (1992) featured grotesque images of dismembered and mutilated bodies, while her Headshots (2000-2002) series depicted the artist as aging actresses, casting directors, and other Hollywood insiders. In recent years, Sherman has continued to explore themes of identity and representation, but has also incorporated more political and social commentary into her work. Sherman has exhibited extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and her work is included in many major collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Modern in London. In 2012, she was awarded the Infinity Award for Art by the International Center of Photography in New York. Despite her success, Sherman is known for her reclusive nature and reluctance to give interviews or discuss her work in detail. She has said that her photographs are not intended to convey any specific message, but rather to provoke a reaction from the viewer and to explore the ways in which images construct our sense of self and society. Cindy Sherman's influence on contemporary photography and art cannot be overstated. Her pioneering work in challenging traditional notions of photographic truth and representation has paved the way for a new generation of artists to explore the medium as a means of constructing and deconstructing identity.

Creator:
Cindy Sherman (1954, American)
Creation Year:
2022
Dimensions:
Height: 31.5 in (80 cm)Width: 7.88 in (20 cm)
Medium:
Wood,Maple,Screen
Movement & Style:
Modern
Period:
2010-
Condition:
Gallery Location:
Madrid, ES
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU1033117872492

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Cindy Sherman

One of the most influential American contemporary photographers, Cindy Sherman has centered her work on transformation. In self-portraits that evoke the tropes of cinema and advertising, she has transformed herself to experiment with ideas of identity, particularly related to the expectations for women. Sherman is one of the most significant artists of the Pictures Generation, a group of artists who have utilized appropriation and montage to reveal the constructed nature of images, including Richard Prince, Barbara Kruger, David Salle and Robert Longo.

Sherman was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, in 1954. Growing up in Long Beach, she was immersed in the television and film culture of the era — the Cold War, nuclear bombs, capitalism and the increasing onslaught of images selling an ever-growing array of commercial products. In 1972, she attended the State University of New York in Buffalo and majored in painting, but she became enthralled with photography and switched her major, graduating in 1976.

Shortly after graduation, she began to work on one of her best-known series, the “Untitled Film Stills.” For the 70 black-and-white photographs that mimic publicity stills used to advertise movies, she was both the photographer and the subject. The work debuted in 1980 to critical acclaim and international recognition.

During the 1980s, Sherman began to shoot with color film and use prosthetics and stage makeup. She explored the grotesque and malevolent by creating photographs portraying eating disorders, insanity and death. Her work further focused on how society maintains and perpetuates stereotypical roles for women.

Her manipulation of identity through images has influenced many photographers, including Ryan Trecartin, Lisa Yuskavage and Tracey Ullman. In 2000, Sherman’s work was exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles. In 2012, the Museum of Modern Art in New York held a retrospective of her work. The National Portrait Gallery in London held a retrospective in 2019.

Major museums around the world have collected her work, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London and the Art Institute of Chicago. Her photographs frequently fetch record prices at auction.

On 1stdibs, find Cindy Sherman’s photography, prints and multiples, mixed media and more.

Cindy ShermanCindy Sherman - UNTITLED #92 Skate Set Modern Photography2022

About the Item

Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman
Cindy Sherman - UNTITLED #92 Skate Set Modern Photography
2022