Shapeshifting artist Cindy Sherman has turned the camera on herself countless times since the 70s to expose the stereotyping of women in modern society, taking on roles from housewife to hussy, screen siren to simpering clown. Given that Sherman’s work, like the fashion industry, trades on the transformative power of clothes, it’s perhaps unsurprising that on several occasions she’s been tapped for her sartorial clout by brands and magazines, including Marc Jacobs, Harper’s Bazaar and, more recently, Pop. One such project that, until now, has not received exposure is a series of photographs shot in 2007 and 2008, for which Sherman slipped on a series of looks by Balenciaga, posing as various characters: the fashion victim; the aging doyenne; the delirious clubber. “It was inspired by the idea of party photos seen so often in magazines where people, desperate to show off their status and connections, excitedly pose to have their picture taken with larger-than-life-sized smiles and personalities,” explains Sherman of the series. The six images, from the extensive collection of PPR head François Pinault, will be shown for the first time in the US today for Fashion’s Night Out at the Balenciaga store in Chelsea, New York. Along with this unique opportunity to see some lesser-known works from this seminal artist’s oeuvre as well as the Nicolas Ghesquiere designed latest collection whose prints quote Sherman as well as referencing her work, the company has called upon model and singer Karen Elson (the current face of the brand) to woo lucky shoppers with her country-tinged contemporary folk songs.