006. Félix González-Torres

Minimalism with Meaning: Félix González-Torres’ Art as a Testament to Love and Loss

Felix Gonzalez-Torres as photographed by David Seidner.

Introduction

Félix González-Torres was a Cuban-born American sculptor, photographer, and conceptual artist known for his intimate & personal works, often inviting viewers to take on roles as active participants and initiating a new era in the relationship between artist and audience. Through a variety of media, González-Torres addressed issues of identity, desire, originality, loss, the metaphor of journey, and the private versus the public domain.

“We are not what we think we are, but rather a compilation of texts. A compilation of histories, past present and future, always, always, shifting, adding, subtracting, gaining.”

— Félix González-Torres

Félix is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in contemporary conceptual art. Known for his minimalist and thought-provoking installations, Félix addressed deeply personal and societal themes, including love, loss, identity, and activism. Through his work, he created power…