‘Cindy Sherman: Imitation of Life’ Illustrates Intricate Inspiration at The Broad

Rachael McDonald

Eli and Edythe Broad purchased their first collection of Cindy Sherman’s photographs back in ‘82, recognizing something exceptional about the then unknown artist. A series of black-and-white portraits of the artist portraying every role and trope from B Movies of the ‘50s and ‘60s were more than enough to convince the Broads that something beyond photography lived in her works. Sherman’s work has since been the most celebrated and devotedly collected of all of the works that the Broads have acquired throughout the years; their collection remains the largest to date of Sherman’s works and continues to grow. Having been the first to inspire Eli and Edythe Broad’s passion for collecting contemporary art and sharing it with the public as well as having set the precedent for their collection, it is only fitting that Sherman’s photographs make up the museum’s debut special exhibition during its inaugural summer. Filling the museum’s first floor galleries, the comprehensive survey of Sherman’s work entitled “Cindy Sherman: Imitation of Life” brings together over 120 pieces of Sherman’s works, many from the Broads notable collection as well as many pieces on loan from other institutions. 

Titled after Douglas Sirk’s ‘59 romantic drama “Imitation of Life,” the cinema-inspired exhibit was put together through the collaboration of guest curator Philipp Kaiser and Cindy Sherman herself. Showcasing works that especially highlight the influence of popular films on Sherman’s bold image explorations, the beginning of the exhibition greets visitors with two murals reimagining Sherman’s ‘80s era rear-screen projection images. A technique borrowed from prolific midcentury filmmakers, the crystal clear image of Sherman takes the stage in front of fuzzy projected environmental backgrounds. Throughout her four-decade-long career, Sherman has gracefully imitated film and fashion, imitating life. This inaugural special exhibition at their first public contemporary art museum elegantly and actively symbolizes the culmination of Eli and Edythe Broad’s relationship with Sherman’s work.

“Cindy Sherman: Imitation of Life” is on view from June 11 through Oct. 2 at The Broad. You can find more information about visiting here.