Cindy's College Life

While Cindy was a student in college she met Robert Longo, who would serve as a very influential person for her photography. Robert, Cindy, and another student created Hallwalls while they were in school. Hallwalls is a contemporary art center in Buffalo that is still used today. The center allows mixed medias such as film, literature, visual arts, and performance art to come together and create exhibitions that touch on themes such as racism, sexual orientation, and gender inequality. However, this is not the only positive influence Robert would have on her. Cindy liked to dress up in costumes and wigs when she went to parties and it was Robert who suggested that she use these characters in her photographs. This is when Cindy turned the camera on herself. However, like many assume, her photographs were far from portraits. Many of her critics insisted that her photographs must be somewhat autobiographical and when asked about this in an interview she responded with “I really don’t think they are about me. It’s maybe about me maybe not wanting to be me and wanting to be all of these other characters. Or at least try them on”(Harden).