“Stop and engage with this artwork, a portrait made of candies. Its changing form reflects a poignant story of love and loss, inviting you to participate in its meaning.”
This artwork presents a pile of brightly wrapped candies, inviting you to take one. The artist, Félix González-Torres, conceived of this piece as a portrait of his partner, Ross Laycock, who was ill with AIDS. The ideal weight of the candy pile is 175 pounds, Ross's healthy body weight. As visitors take candies, the pile diminishes, mirroring the physical decline Ross experienced. The museum staff may or may not replenish the candies, reflecting the fragility of life and the ongoing process of grief and memory. This interactive and ever-changing installation transforms a simple pile of sweets into a poignant meditation on love, loss, and the ephemeral nature of existence.
- Artist
- Félix González-Torres
- Date
- 1991
What to Notice
Three details hide in plain sight. Here’s where to look.
The vibrant colors and shiny wrappers of the candies.
The way the pile of candies changes over time as visitors interact with it.
The simple, unassuming presentation of the candy pile directly on the floor.
Stand in front of it and listen
The full narration walks you through Untitled (Portrait of Ross in L.A.) — 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
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