Lynne Cohen was born in Racine, Wisconsin. She lived and worked in Canada from 1973 until her death in 2014.

Cohen studied at the University of Wisconsin (BS 1967), the Slade School of Art, University of London, 1964-1965; and Eastern Michigan University (MA 1969). She has held teaching positions at Eastern Michigan University, 1968-1973; University of Ottawa 1974-2005; School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 1984, 1992; Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, 1996 and Virginia Commonwealth University, 2005-2006.

A recipient of numerous awards of merit, including the Governor General's Award in Visual Arts and Media Arts (Canada) in 2005.

Lynne Cohen is known for her photographs of domestic and institutional interior spaces, which have included living rooms, public halls, retirement homes, laboratories, offices, showrooms, shooting ranges, factories, spas, and military installations.

She has been in countless solo and group exhibitions around the world and is represented in over 50 public collections, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Australian National Gallery, the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Canada Council Art Bank.