Julio’s House
By Orestes González
Julio's House by New York-based Orestes González is a deeply personal photographic project that documents the life of the artist's uncle, Julio. Through a series of intimate images, González captures the essence of Julio's life, his home, and the stories that the space holds.
Julio was a Cuban immigrant who lived a colorful, albeit often challenging, life in the United States. His house, filled with an eclectic mix of objects, memorabilia, and remnants of his life experiences, serves as a visual archive of his identity, struggles, and resilience. Each photograph in the series not only tells a story of Julio's personal journey but also reflects broader themes of immigration, identity, and memory.
González's work is a poignant exploration of how spaces can embody the lives of those who inhabit them, turning the ordinary into something extraordinary through the lens of personal history. Julio's House becomes a tribute to his uncle, preserving the memory of his life in a tangible, evocative form.
Orestes González (Havana, Cuba, 1956) is a visual artist based in New York City. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the University of Texas. González has produced work in over 40 countries, documenting the cultures and peculiarities he encounters. He is known for his deeply personal and evocative work, which often explores themes related to family, identity, and cultural memory. He gained significant recognition for his project Julio’s House, a monograph that documents his uncle’s home, capturing the essence of the immigrant experience and LGBTQ+ history. His work has been exhibited worldwide including shows at Havana’s prestigious Fábrica de Arte Cubano (FAC), Station Independent Project in New York, The Center for Fine Art Photography in Colorado, and Jeffrey Leder Gallery in New York. In addition to his photography, González serves as the director of photo-based projects at Culture Lab in Long Island City, Queens. He is also currently curating "AI Portraits" at the Venice Biennale (Sept-Dec, 2024).