CINDY SHERMAN Press Signature Sheet, 2012

This rare signature press sheet (proof) was used during production of the exhibition catalogue, with the signatures serving as printer's registration and approval marks before final publication. As a working proof, it was never intended for public distribution, and the handling and production wear reflected in its condition are entirely consistent with its original use in the printing process.

The specific exhibition that brought all of these rare, early student works together in one definitive showcase was CINDY SHERMAN. That's me – That's not me. Early work 1975–1977. Organized in collaboration with the Sammlung Verbund Collection in Vienna, Austria, the landmark exhibition premiered in 2012 before traveling internationally.

The images laid out across this proof sheet belong exclusively to the highly experimental, conceptual works Sherman created while studying at Buffalo State College. The 2012 retrospective marked the first major museum exhibition devoted entirely to uncovering and systematically presenting these formative archives, making this production proof an important document tied directly to that historic project.

The specific bodies of work visible on the sheet include:

Bus Riders (1975–1976): Visible in the column arrays at the far left and right, these photographs feature Sherman transforming herself into a range of ordinary commuters waiting for a bus.

Murder Mystery and A Play of Selves Cut-Outs (1975–1976): Seen in the central columns, these sequences consist of meticulously cut black-and-white photographic figures of Sherman's various alter egos arranged into narrative storyboards.

Lucy and other early portrait experiments (1975): The smiling young girl with hair clips at center-left represents one of Sherman's earliest character transformations, reflecting her developing exploration of identity and performance.

This proof sheet was produced for the companion publication, Cindy Sherman: The Early Works 1975–1977 Catalogue Raisonné, making it a scarce behind-the-scenes artifact documenting the creation of the definitive catalogue accompanying one of the most important exhibitions ever devoted to Sherman's earliest work.