SI LIVE: Felix Gonzalez-Torres: Always to Return Tour

Join us Wednesday, April 9 at 10:00 a.m., for an exclusive tour with curators of the exhibition Felix Gonzalez-Torres: Always to Return for SI staff, interns, and volunteers.

 

“Untitled” (Portrait of Dad), 1991
White mint candies in clear wrappers, endless supply
Overall dimensions vary with installation
Ideal weight: 175 lb.
© Estate Felix Gonzalez-Torres
Courtesy Felix Gonzalez-Torres Foundation
Photo: Matailong Du

The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and the Archives of American Art present Felix Gonzalez-Torres: Always to Return, an exhibition focused on the artist’s deep engagement with portraiture and the construction of identity, as well as how history is told and inherited. As one of the leading artists—and portraitists—of the twentieth century, Gonzalez-Torres (1957–1996) expanded the horizon of what portraiture could be, from a genre often seen as a static representation of individuals to one with the capacity to change, remain resonant, and encourage collaboration. With no formal beginning or end point, the exhibition unfolds at the intersection of Gonzalez-Torres’s groundbreaking work, the context of two Smithsonian collections, and the historically significant setting of Washington, D.C.

Due to limited space, advance registration is required. Register here. Please enter at the staff entrance on G Street and meet at the welcome desk inside the G street entrance/lobby. A valid Smithsonian badge is required to attend. 

About the Curators

Charlotte Ickes is the curator of time-based media art and special projects at the National Portrait Gallery. Prior to joining the Portrait Gallery, she was the Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. Ickes worked in various curatorial capacities while completing her PhD in the history of art from the University of Pennsylvania.

Josh T. Franco is collector at large at the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art. Prior to joining the Smithsonian, he was an artist-guide at Judd Foundation while completing his PhD in art history at Binghamton University, SUNY.

Presented by the Smithsonian Community Committee in collaboration with the Archives of American Art and the National Portrait Gallery.

For further information on this message, contact Lauren Cooper, National Postal Museum, CooperR@si.edu