“This seemingly simple string of light bulbs is a profound artwork about life, loss, and the beauty found in everyday ephemera. Its gentle glow and eventual dimming invite a quiet, personal reflection.”
A simple string of twenty-four bare light bulbs hangs before you, their glow softened by a dimmer switch. This piece, titled "Untitled" (Last Light), invites contemplation on themes of fragility and the passage of time. The work’s impermanent nature is central to its meaning; the bulbs will eventually burn out, requiring replacement, much like life itself. Its modest materials—common light bulbs and an extension cord—elevate everyday objects into a poignant artistic statement. The installation's flexibility means its exact form can vary, emphasizing that art, like memory, is not fixed but continuously reinterpreted. Félix González-Torres created this work in 1993, at a time when he was grappling with personal loss, infusing the piece with a quiet, reflective power.
- Artist
- Félix González-Torres
- Date
- 1993
- Medium
- Twenty four light bulbs, extension cord, plastic light sockets, and dimmer switch
- Location
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Dimensions
- 2.5 × 132 × 54 cm (1 × 52 × 21 in.)
- Collection
- Contemporary Art
- Culture
- United States
- Credit line
- Gift of Lannan Foundation
What to Notice
Four details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.

Observe the subtle hum and warmth emanating from the bulbs.
Notice how the light casts soft shadows on the wall behind it.
See the simple, exposed electrical components, essential to the work.
Consider the number of bulbs and their even spacing along the cord.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through "Untitled" (Last Light) — the story behind it, the details most visitors miss, and why it matters. Free in the Art Whisper app.
Félix González-Torres
1957–1996 · CubaFélix González-Torres transformed everyday objects like light bulbs and wrapped candies into profound meditations on love, loss, and public engagement.
Further Works by González-Torres
Gonzalez and Shadow
1972 · Art Institute of Chicago
"Untitled" (Bloodwork—Steady Decline)
1993 · Art Institute of Chicago
Extemporaneous
Art Institute of Chicago
Portrait of Edmond de Goncourt
Art Institute of Chicago
"Untitled" (Paris)
1988 · Art Institute of Chicago
"Untitled"
1989 · Art Institute of Chicago
"Untitled" (Silver Beach)
1990 · Art Institute of Chicago
"Untitled" (t-cell count)
1990 · Art Institute of Chicago
More works to explore
Beyond González-Torres: works from the same years.
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It's a New Age
William Hook · 1992 · Art Institute of Chicago
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Birgit Cullberg · 1999 · Art Institute of Chicago
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Krach
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Blood Pool
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