Selfie Culture in Contemporary Art: From Vaccari to Sherman

The selfie, a pervasive phenomenon of the digital age, has transformed interpersonal spheres and fueled a culture of exhibitionism. In contemporary art, it serves both as a tool for self-branding and as a subject of critical investigation. As early as 1972, Franco Vaccari invited visitors at the 36th Venice Biennale to leave photographic traces in his work 'Esposizione in Tempo Reale n. 4'. In 2013, the 'National #Selfie Portrait Gallery' at Moving Image Art London, curated by Marina Galperina and Kyle Chayka, featured short videos by 17 international artists, described as 'a meta-commentary on self-branding in the digital age'. In 2014, Patrick Lichty launched 'Selfies and the New Photography. 50 Artists/50 Selfies', an open call, while Milan's PhotoFestival dedicated a focus to selfiemania with 'City Mobility'. The Saatchi Gallery's 2017 exhibition 'From Selfie to Self-Expression' traced the self-portrait genre from van Gogh to Cindy Sherman, accompanied by the international #SaatchiSelfie competition. Curator Nigel Hurst noted that humans have been obsessed with self-imaging for centuries; only the method has changed.