Born in Cuba, Felix Gonzalez-Torres moved to Puerto Rico before settling in New York City in 1979, where he became a central figure in the conceptual art movement of the 1980s and 1990s. His work emerged from a background of formal education in photography and a deep engagement with the social and political climate of his time.

His practice is defined by the use of accessible, mass-produced materials including stacks of paper, strings of light bulbs, and individually wrapped candies. These works often invite audience interaction, such as taking a sheet of paper or a piece of candy, which serves as a metaphor for the depletion and renewal of memory and the body.

Gonzalez-Torres remains a foundational influence in contemporary art, with his works frequently featured in major institutional retrospectives and collection-based exhibitions. Recent programming at the Whitney Museum of American Art continues to highlight his light installations as pivotal touchstones in the history of American conceptualism.