The Gallery at UTA is pleased to present a two-person exhibition showcasing the creative partnership of artists John Ahearn (New York) and Rigoberto Torres (Florida). Concurrently, a complementary group show of artworks borrowed from private collections titled "Works By..." will be on view. Both exhibitions are open to the public at the University of Texas at Arlington from September 7 through October 9.
"John Ahearn with Rigoberto Torres" features painted plaster life casts which convey the vibrance of the individuals they depict. Ranging in size from smaller wall reliefs to life‐size freestanding sculptures, the life casts memorialize various members of their community that might otherwise be overlooked. Working and exhibiting individually, and collaboratively since 1979, the artists' sculptural process involves creating objective, naturalistic portraits of real‐life people, while also celebrating their subjects' inherent individuality and humanity.
"Works By..." showcases photographs, assemblages, mixed media works on paper and fabric, sculpture, and video works made by a diverse group of artists also focused on depicting people and community. Artists included in this exhibition include Omar Ba, Willie Birch, Regina Jose Galindo, Alberto Garcia‐Alix, Alicia Henry, Letitia Huckaby, Graciela Iturbide, Luis Jimenez, Delilah Montoya, and Luis Gonzalez Palma.
John Ahearn (b. 1951, Binghamton, New York) studied at Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. His work has been exhibited and collected internationally. Ahearn lives and works in New York City and is represented by Alexander and Bonin, New York and Charlie James Gallery, Los Angeles.
Rigoberto Torres (b. 1960, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico) lived in New York before moving to Florida where he currently lives and works. He met John Ahearn over 40 years ago at the South Bronx art space, Fashion Moda. At that time, he was working in a factory that made religious statuary, and their shared interest in molding and casting figures led to a collaborative studio practice that continues to this day.
In addition to their individual practices, Ahearn's and Torres' collaborative work has been the subject of numerous exhibitions, including the survey, "South Bronx Hall of Fame," organized by the Contemporary Arts Center, Houston in 1991, which traveled to museums in Europe and North America. They have also collaborated on numerous public art projects nationally and internationally over the past four decades.
In association with their exhibition in The Gallery at UTA, the artists will discuss their work in an hour‐long gallery talk starting at 12:30 pm on Thursday, September 9. A reception with both artists will occur on Friday, September 10 from 5:30 ‐ 8 pm with brief remarks by the artists beginning at 6:30 pm.
Gallery hours are 10 am ‐ 5 pm Monday through Friday and 12 ‐ 5 pm on Saturday. The Gallery is located in the Fine Arts Building, room 169, 502 S. Cooper Street, Arlington, TX. Free parking in the gallery visitor spot in the F7 parking lot is available by advance reservation, or paid parking is always available at street meters or in the nearby West Campus Parking Garage. Free parking for receptions is available but requires check in license plate registration with the parking attendant on duty. For more information, contact Benito Huerta or Patricia Healy (817) 272‐5658 or the gallery desk (817) 272‐3110.
Note: All visitors are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing while on campus.
Price
- FREE!
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