Works by U.S. Artist Felix Gonzalez-Torres to Represent United States at 2007 Venice Biennale, Exhibitions Also Selected for 2006 Biennales in Cairo, Dakar and Sco Paulo

The U.S. Department of State is pleased to announce the results of an open competition to select the U.S. representative to the 2007 Venice Biennale. Pursuant to the recommendation of the Federal Advisory Committee on International Exhibitions (FACIE), the Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) has selected an exhibition of the work of Felix Gonzalez-Torres (1957-1996) to represent the United States. Nancy Spector, Curator of Contemporary Art and Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, will be the U.S. Commissioner and will organize the exhibition.

Born in Cuba, Felix Gonzalez-Torres is noted for a body of work that has proven to be profoundly influential for a younger generation of artists. Employing simple, everyday materials, his work investigates methods of distribution, process, and audience participation. For the exhibition, Ms. Spector will include a new work, made from a drawing by Mr. Gonzalez-Torres but unrealized in his lifetime.

At the request of the U.S. Department of State, the National Endowment for the Arts convened the Federal Advisory Committee on International Exhibitions on March 20. The Committee reviewed proposals received from U.S. curators in response to an open competition for the 2007 Venice Biennale, announced by ECA in early December 2005. FACIE advises ECA on proposals received for official U.S. participation in major international exhibitions. At the meeting, FACIE, which is composed of curators, museum directors, artists and other experts in American contemporary art, also reviewed proposals for the 2006 Dakar Biennale and the 2006 Sao Paulo Bienal.

In addition to the Venice Biennale exhibition, ECA will support a group exhibition at the 2006 Dakar Biennale, organized by Amy Horschak of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, including works by Louis Cameron, Kori Newkirk, William Pope. L, and Senam Okudzeto, and a group exhibition at the 2006 São Paulo Bienal, organized by the curators of the Bienal, including works by Mark Bradford, Dan Graham, Gordon Matta-Clark, and Rirkrit Tiravanija.

At an earlier meeting, FACIE recommended a proposal from Gilbert Vicario of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, to present a new work by Daniel Joseph Martinez at the 2006 Cairo International Biennale. That exhibition is scheduled to open in December. Mr. Vicario will serve as U.S. Commissioner.

ECA's Cultural Programs Division supports and manages the official U.S. participation at the Venice Biennale, the São Paulo Bienal, the Cairo Biennale, the Cuenca Bienal, Dak'Art - the International Biennale of Dakar and other international exhibitions, ensuring that the excellence, vitality, and diversity of the arts in the United States are effectively represented to international audiences.