Using mundane objects such as stacks of paper, lightbulb strings and wrapped candy, gonzalestorres invites the audience to become an active figure in the reception of artworks and, in light of his activism against the aids epidemic of which he himself became a. Central to much of gonzaleztorress art is his interest in exploring the permeable boundaries that separate private. David breslin is the demartini family curator and director of the collection at the whitney museum of american art. Carol bove, artist, new york elena filipovic, curator, berlin, and curator of the current felix gonzaleztorres exhibition at fondation beyeler, riehenbasel. The book, which places strong emphasis on the written word, contains newly commissioned texts by robert storr and miwon kwon among other notables, as well as significant critical essays, exhibition statements, transcripts from lectures, personal correspondence, and writings that influenced gonzalez torres and his work. Amazon felix gonzaleztorres gonzaleztorres, felix, ault. This was an intentional titling scheme by the artist. Elena filipovic and tino sehgal were present in conversation about gonzaleztorress work, the structure of the exhibition, and the publication. Felix gonzalez torres 19571996 was a cuban artist who grew up in puerto rico before moving to new york city. For reference only and not for purposes of publication. But this scenario is in jarring contrast to its public locationon a billboard. Best sellers gift ideas new releases whole foods todays deals amazonbasics coupons gift cards. Felix gonzaleztorres 19571996 began his art studies at the university of puerto rico before moving to new york city in 1979, where he attended the whitney independent study program, first in 1981 and again in 1983. Gonzaleztorres died in 1996 from aidsrelated complications.
Foundation chief curator at the menil drawing institute in houston, texas. Gonzaleztorress openly gay sexual orientation is often seen as influential in his work as an artist. May 11, 2017 gonzaleztorres was the first artist rosen showed when she opened her gallery in 1990 in soho. Using mundane objects such as stacks of paper, lightbulb strings and wrapped candy, gonzalestorres invites the audience to become an active figure in the reception of artworks and, in light of his activism against the aids epidemic of which he. Felix gonzaleztorres american, 19571996 began his art studies at the university of puerto rico before moving to new york city in 1979, where he attended the whitney independent study program. The book, which places strong emphasis on the written word, contains newly commissioned texts by robert storr and miwon kwon among other notables, as well as significant critical essays, exhibition statements, transcripts from lectures, personal correspondence, and writings that influenced gonzaleztorres and his work. Felix gonzaleztorres, rockbund art museum, shanghai, volksrepublik china. Rather than constituting a solid, immovable monument, the stacks can be dispersed, depleted, and renewed over time. Felix gonzaleztorres 19571996 queer cultural center. Felix gonzalez torres book by felix gonzalez torres. May 19, 2017 felix gonzalez torres american, 19571996 began his art studies at the university of puerto rico before moving to new york city in 1979, where he attended the whitney independent study program. Felix gonzaleztorres was a cubanborn american artist known for his landmark installations that transform humble objects into solemn meditations on death and intimacy.
Ault worked with gonzaleztorres in the new york collective group material, and has edited an excellent book about his art. He died of aids in 1996, just one year after his residency at artpace. About the book one of the most significant artists to emerge in the late 1980s and early 1990s, felix gonzaleztorress reduced formal vocabulary, conceptual rigor, and evocative use of everyday materials resonates with meaning that is at once specific and mutable, rigorous and generous, poetic and political. Prior to joining the whitney, breslin was the john r.
His works complicate the questions of public and private space, authorship, originality, and the role of institutionalized meaning. Felix gonzaleztorres, whose modest yet evocative sculpture and photographs about love and loss were often inspired by aids, died yesterday at his home in miami. Two works by felix gonzaleztorres colby college museum of art. The book includes installation views of each version of the exhibition and an expansive illustrated checklist with images of each artwork in every. Gonzaleztorres was known for his minimal installations and sculptures in which he used materials such as strings of lightbulbs, clocks. Felix gonzaleztorres november 26, 1957 january 9, 1996 was a cubanborn american visual artist.
A special talk and book event to celebrate the release of felix gonzaleztorres. Jan 11, 1996 felix gonzalez torres, whose modest yet evocative sculpture and photographs about love and loss were often inspired by aids, died yesterday at his home in miami. Untitled billboard of an empty bed is a stark, blackandwhite image of the rumpled sheets and pillows of an unmade bed. A new york, nel gennaio 1996, moriva di aids lartista felix gonzaleztorres. Gonzaleztorres got to know horn after he and laycock saw a single gold. Felix gonzaleztorres, untitled billboard of an empty. Jun 26, 2018 gonzalez torres died in 1996 from aidsrelated complications. From 1987 to 1991, gonzaleztorres was a part of the artist collective group material, whose collaborative, politicallyinformed practice focused on community engagement and. Felix gonzaleztorres by felix gonzaleztorres, robert. Gonzalez torres had his first oneman exhibition of. The artist felix gonzalestorres is the subject of this monogr. How felix gonzaleztorres continues making art 16 years after. Felix gonzaleztorres, one of the most influential artists of. How felix gonzaleztorres continues making art 16 years.
This is the biography that we have chosen to print, which is in the true spirit of this gifted artist. Gonzaleztorres made a work that fully relies on a type all the dancers are male, athletic, attractive, most with a few tattoos and very little. Felix gonzaleztorres 19571996 was a cuban artist who grew up in puerto rico before moving to new york city. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Two works by felix gonzaleztorres colby college museum. Cubanamerican artist felix gonzales torres polemic work deals with complex themes such as loss, love, separation, and death.
May 27, 2016 ault worked with gonzaleztorres in the new york collective group material, and has edited an excellent book about his art. In conjunction with colby colleges 201415 humanities theme of migrations, the colby museum is presenting two of gonzaleztorress stack pieces, works composed of. Gonzalez torres emphasized the thematic universality of his pieces. Felix gonzaleztorres was born in cuba, and grew up in puerto rico before moving to new york city. From the flag art foundation, felix gonzaleztorres, untitled puzzle 1969, cprint jig saw puzzle in plastic bag, 7 12. Books by felix gonzaleztorres author of felix gonzales. Working during the height of the aids crisis, he conveyed the loss of his partner, ross laycock, through a variety of emotionally charged objects such as strings of lightbulbs, empty beds, and burntout can. In the art world at the end of the 80s, rosen said, people thought the. Gonzaleztorres was known for his minimal installations and sculptures in which he used materials such as strings of lightbulbs, clocks, stacks of paper, or packaged hard candies. Miami, florida 1996 began his art studies at the university of puerto rico before moving to new york city in 1979, where he attended the whitney independent study program, first in 1981 and again in 1983. Felix gonzaleztorres, 38, a sculptor of love and loss. Gonzaleztorres was the first artist rosen showed when she opened her gallery in 1990 in soho.
Nov 03, 2019 artist known for his photographic billboards, and installations involving common objects such as candy, and performance elements. He received his bfa from pratt institute, new york, in 1983 and his mfa from the international center of photography and new. In 1989 gonzaleztorres began making his stack pieces. Central to much of gonzaleztorress art is his interest in exploring the permeable boundaries that separate. The book has been years in the making as elena filipovic and the felix gonzaleztorres foundation worked together to find the best ways to present the complexities and nuances of the exhibition.
A colossal new show revisits a conceptual art icon the. Felix gonzaleztorres has 14 books on goodreads with 218 ratings. All of gonzaleztorres works, with few exceptions, are entitled untitled in quotation marks, sometimes followed by parenthetical title. The book were released months before his death in 1996, so he was in part responsible of its content and structure. A colossal new show revisits a conceptual art icon the new. Felix gonzaleztorres biography this document was updated june, 2018. In 1987, he joined group material, a new yorkbased group of artists whose intention was to work collaboratively, adhering to principles of cultural activism and. Felix gonzaleztorres by felix gonzaleztorres, hardcover. Artist known for his photographic billboards, and installations involving common objects such as candy, and performance elements. Falling in love with a felix gonzaleztorres gogo dancer. Working during the height of the aids crisis, he conveyed the loss of his partner, ross laycock, through a variety of emotionally charged objects such as strings of lightbulbs, empty beds, and burntout candles.
The depression in the center of each pillow, suggesting a recent presence, conveys a profound sense of intimacy. From 1987 to 1991, gonzalez torres was a part of the artist collective group material, whose collaborative, politicallyinformed practice focused on community engagement and. Felix gonzaleztorres 1957 1996 in 1993, in lieu of a standard biographybibliography, felix chose to write a portrait of himself. Felix gonzaleztorres he received his bfa from pratt institute, new york, in 1983 and his mfa from the international center of photography and new york university in 1987.
Nacido en cuba en 1957, tras vivir en madrid y puerto rico, termina instalandose en nueva york en 1979. This book covers all the billboard pieces and serves as a miniretrospective of this critical part of gonzalestorres career. Specific objects without specific form was held at the fondation beyeler in basel on june 15, 2017. The open works of felix gonzaleztorres hyperallergic. Felix gonzaleztorres, 38, a sculptor of love and loss the. Aug 30, 2012 in the 10 years of his brief career before he succumbed to aids in 1996, the cubanamerican artist felix gonzalez torres made work out of cellophanewrapped candy and stacks of posters, all meant. Artist, conceptual artist, installation artist, photographer, sculptor. I ask the public to help me, to take responsibility, to become part of my work, to join in. Gonzaleztorres frequent decision to leave the interpretation of his pieces to the public, without forcing a univocal reading, was a fundamental part of his strategy and can be included in the. In the art world at the end of the 80s, rosen said, people thought the clock was going to.
Felix gonzalez torres was a cubanborn american artist known for his landmark installations that transform humble objects into solemn meditations on death and intimacy. Drawing from the traditions of minimalism and conceptual art, felix gonzaleztorres created installations and sculptures that function as personal and political meditations on private and public life. The transcendent quality of gonzaleztorres work was magnified in the texas landscape, and the project garnered international attention for its unprecedented commemoration of this remarkable body of work. In the 10 years of his brief career before he succumbed to aids in 1996, the cubanamerican artist felix gonzaleztorres made work out of cellophanewrapped candy and stacks of posters, all meant. Jul 07, 2017 gonzaleztorres made a work that fully relies on a type all the dancers are male, athletic, attractive, most with a few tattoos and very little body hair but some but also allows. Felix gonzalez torres he received his bfa from pratt institute, new york, in 1983 and his mfa from the international center of photography and new york university in 1987.
The artist felix gonzales torres is the subject of this monogr. This small book, incredibly well edited, is the perfect way to enter into the extremely poetic and conceptual universe of felix gonzaleztorres. Essay by susan cahan, short story by jan avgikos, and interview with the artist by tim rollins. Often referred to as process art, gonzaleztorress work focused on ideas of formation and decay. Felix gonzaleztorres s most popular book is felix gonzaleztorres. Felix gonzaleztorres, felix gonzaleztorrez, felix gonzaleztorres, felix gonzalez torres. Hardcover this small book, incredibly well edited, is the perfect way to enter into the extremely poetic and conceptual universe of felix gonzaleztorres. Felix gonzaleztorres consists of a single enlarged photographic imagethat of the artists own empty, double beddisplayed at the museum and on twentyfour city billboards at various sites throughout new york city. Felix gonzaleztorres, original name felix gonzaleztorres, born nov. The theme of travel runs throughout the work of felix gonzaleztorres, a cubanborn, american artist who immigrated, via puerto rico, to the united states in 1979. He was heavily influenced by conceptual artists such as joseph kosuth and lawrence weiner. For more information, please contact the felix gonzaleztorres foundation.