Assuming the roles of model, photographer, art director, hair and make-up, and so on… influential American artist Cindy Sherman has been producing mesmerising conceptual self-portraits since the 1970s, and continues to this day; challenging society’s portrayal of women throughout.

Cindy Sherman, a major new retrospective of her work at New York’s MoMA, brings together 171 of her most important works, and is a fascinating insight into one of the world’s most prominent photographic artists – incorporating her often stinging assessments on stereotypes, high-society, sex, fantasy and beyond. Powerful, and often disturbing, here’s a retrospective for an artist for whom groundbreaking is a genuinely deserved label.

Cindy Sherman. Untitled #264. 1992.
Chromogenic color print, 50 x 6′ 3″ (127 x 190.5 cm).
Courtesy the artist and Metro Pictures, New York
© 2012 Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman. Untitled #175. 1987.
Chromogenic color print, 46 7/8 x 71 1/2″ (119.1 x 181.6 cm).
Courtesy the artist and Metro Pictures, New York
© 2012 Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman. Untitled #463. 2007-08.
Chromogenic color print, 68 5/8 x 6″ (174.2 x 182.9 cm).
Courtesy the artist and Metro Pictures, New York
© 2012 Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman. Untitled #183. 1988.
Chromogenic color print, 38 x 22 3/4″ (96.5 x 57.8 cm).
Courtesy the artist and Metro Pictures, New York
© 2012 Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman. Untitled #137. 1984.
Chromogenic color print, 70 1/2″ x 47 3/4″ (179.1 x 121.3 cm).
Courtesy the artist and Metro Pictures, New York
© 2012 Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman. Untitled Film Still #6. 1977.
Gelatin silver print, 9 7/16 x 6 1/2″ (24 x 16.5 cm).
The Museum of Modern Art, New York.
Acquired through the generosity of Jo Carole and Ronald S. Lauder in memory of Eugene M. Schwartz
© 2012 Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman. Untitled #465. 2008.
Chromogenic color print, 63 3/4 x 57 1/4″ (161.9 x 145.4 cm).
Courtesy the artist and Metro Pictures, New York
© 2012 Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman. Untitled #96. 1981.
Chromogenic color print, 24 x 47 15/16″ (61 x 121.9 cm).
The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of Carl D. Lobell
© 2012 Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman. Untitled #425. 2004.
Chromogenic color print, 70 3/4″ x 7′ 5 3/4″ (179.7 x 228 cm).
Courtesy the artist and Metro Pictures, New York
© 2012 Cindy Sherman

Cindy Sherman. Untitled #359. 2000.
Chromogenic color print, 30 x 20″ (76.2 x 50.8 cm).
Courtesy the artist and Metro Pictures, New York
© 2012 Cindy Sherman