Visual artist Ana Torfs was born in Belgium in 1963. The relation or tension between text/language and image plays a central role in Torfs' work, and with it all the related processes of visualisation, interpretation and translation. She enables a topical and authentic perception of the scattered remains from our cultural and political history. Existing texts and/or images are often used as a starting point for her poignant works, which condense into precisely composed collages or montages, suffused with elliptical allusions. In her installations, Torfs uses a variety of media, ranging from slide projections, sound, photography, and film to xerography, off-set printing, Jacquard weaving, and silkscreen.

Solo shows of Torfs' work include exhibitions at Generali Foundation in Vienna (2010), at K21 Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen in Düsseldorf (2010), at Sprengel Museum in Hannover (2008), at argos centre for art and media in Brussels (2007), at daadgalerie, Berlin (2006), at GAK Gesellschaft für Aktuelle Kunst in Bremen (2006), and at Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels (2000). She has also developed a web project for Dia Art Foundation in New York (2004). A Prior Magazine dedicated an issue to Torfs' work in 2004. Torfs was awarded a DAAD scholarship (Berlin) in 2005. Among her many group exhibitions, Torfs participated in the Sharjah Biennial 11 (2013), Manifesta 9 Genk, Belgium (2012), Montreal Biennial 2 (2000) and Lyon Biennal 3 (1995). 

Ana Torfs studied communication science at the University of Leuven (1981-1986) and film & video at the Sint-Lukas University College of Art and Design in Brussels (1986-1990). She lives and works in Brussels.