Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Untitled, 1995
Felix Gonzalez-Torres (1957-1996) has been selected by the State Department to represent the US at next year’s Venice Biennale. Tyler Green has more.
Update: Greg Allen points out an interview Robert Storr did with the artist in 1995, and here’s what Storr had to say about Gonzalez-Torres’ work (and other topics) during an interview I did with him last year.
Wow, is this a first? I mean, I’m down with Felix Gonzalez Torres but I was under the impression that living artists were chosen to represent the U.S. in venice. I’m kind of curious as to who will be deciding what to show – the estate(the gallery that represnets it) or the curator – and to what extent we can hope to see anything new – it seems to me that the exisiting work has been well exposed in European and American venues already. What gives?
Comment by s.tacular — April 6, 2006 @ 3:23 pm
Not a first, but according to The New York Times, it’s the first time in 20 years a deceased artist has been chosen to represent the US. BTW, here’s artist Mark Vallen’s take on why a deceased, openly gay artist who dealt with sociopolitical issues with humor and bite might’ve been chosen.
Comment by Paul Schmelzer — April 7, 2006 @ 7:11 pm