Sherrie Levine

USA

Sherrie Levine

USA

Born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania in 1947, Sherrie Levine is a prominent American photographer, painter, and conceptual artist. Although her birthplace is notable, it was the Midwest, particularly her upbringing in the St. Louis, Missouri suburbs, that significantly influenced her artistic identity. Levine’s artistic journey began when her mother’s passion for painting and visits to the St. Louis Art Museum ignited her interest in art at a young age. Regular trips to view art house films with her mother also played a pivotal role in shaping her creative direction. After completing high school in 1965, Levine spent eight years in Wisconsin, obtaining her B.A. from the University of Wisconsin in Madison in 1969. She further honed her skills, earning her M.F.A. from the same institution in 1973. Following a period of diverse employment in commercial art and teaching, Levine relocated to New York City in 1975 to fully devote herself to her artistic pursuits.

A defining aspect of Levine’s work involves her appropriation art strategy. She often creates exact photographic reproductions of works by other photographers such as Walker Evans, Eliot Porter, and Edward Weston. This approach challenges traditional notions of authorship and originality, inviting viewers to contemplate the concept of artistic authenticity and the role of the artist in contemporary culture.

Artist's projects