Single sheet folded three times to create 8 pages Edited by Ann Jarmusch, John Ahearn and Rigoberto Torres 20.2 x 20.2 cm Language: English Paperback Publisher: Institute of Contemporary Art, University of Pennsylvania 1985
This rare exhibition brochure documents Investigations 12: John Ahearn with Rigoberto Torres – Sculpture, a landmark show held at the Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), Philadelphia, from June 12 to July 28, 1985. Folded from a single sheet into 8 pages, this compact yet rich publication includes a short essay by architectural and art critic Ann Jarmusch, three black-and-white illustrations, and a detailed artist chronology. The text captures the social realism and collaborative energy at the heart of Ahearn and Torres’ sculptural portraits—works that emerged from the South Bronx but resonated far beyond.
Part art historical document, part community artifact, this brochure reflects a key moment in 1980s American art when representation, neighborhood activism, and public art intersected. The exhibition was part of the ICA’s Investigations series, which spotlighted emerging and underrepresented voices. Today, the brochure serves as both a collectible and a primary resource for understanding the collaborative ethos of Ahearn and Torres—whose life-casting sculptures turned ordinary residents into monumental subjects.
