Félix Gonzaléz-Torrés

An Abbreviated Timeline of Félix Gonzaléz-Torrés's Life

• 1957 Born in Guáimaro, Cuba
• 1976 Graduated from Colegio San Jorge and began studies at Universidad de Puerto Rico
• 1979 Moved to New York City
• 1989 Published first printed art page, “Contaminación ambien / mental”
• 1981 Graduated with a BFA from Pratt Institute
• 1983 Met Ross Laycock, who would eventually become Gonzaléz-Torrés's partner and the subject of the piece pictured above
• 1987 Graduated with an MFA from the International Center of Photography and New York University
• 1987 MFA Exhibition, showcasing the first of Gonzaléz-Torrés's signature dateline pieces
• 1987 Joined the artist collective Group Material
• 1989 Received a fellowship from the National Endowment of the Arts
• 1990 Moved to L.A.
• 1990 Created “Untitled” (Death By Gun) with photos of all of the people killed by hand guns in the U.S. in one week
• 1991 Ross died of AIDS
• 1991 Created “Untitled” (Portrait of Ross in L.A.), the piece pictured here, with an ideal weight of 175lbs—Ross's weight when he was healthy
• 1992 As a project for the Musuem of Modern Art, a photo of Gonzaléz-Torrés's empty bed, titled “Untitled” is displayed on several billboards
• 1996 Gonzaléz-Torrés died of AIDS
• 2002 The Estate of Félix Gonzaléz-Torrés created the Félix Gonzaléz-Torrés Foundation (link opens in new tab)