John Baldessari's "The Difference Between Fête and Fate" (1987/2013) is a thought-provoking installation that delves into the interplay between imagery and meaning, reflecting the artist's long-standing fascination with the conceptual and visual aspects of art. Initially created for a retrospective exhibition at the Museo d'Arte Contemporanea, Castello di Rivoli in Italy, the work was later reconfigured into a multi-wall installation for a broader presentation. This piece is part of a series of early installation works by Baldessari that introduced an architectural dimension to his practice, marking a significant period where he expanded his method of juxtaposing overlapping fragments and chance correspondences within a larger environmental context.

"The Difference Between Fête and Fate" consists of several groups of black-and-white photographs, emphasizing the relationship and contrast between humans and the animal kingdom. Through these images, Baldessari explores themes of correspondence and disparity in culture and the inherent hierarchy within visual perception. The artist has been known to critique "the tyranny of the square" or the conventional framing and presentation of visual art, suggesting a broader inquiry into how we perceive and organize visual information. This work, like much of his other installations from this period, engages with the physical space of its presentation, inviting viewers to consider the composition of images in space as a critical element of the work's meaning.

The installation was featured in a special exhibition at Marian Goodman Gallery, highlighting Baldessari's innovative use of photo composite works created between 1987 and 1989. These works represent a pivotal moment in his career, where he began to integrate architectural elements into his compositions, challenging traditional views and creating new dialogues between the viewer, the image, and the space it inhabits​ (Marian Goodman)​​ (Observer)​​ (Marian Goodman)​.