In the beginning, Federle‘s work dealt withAmerican Abstract Expressionis. His minimalistic works show geometric shapes and their position and balance in the picture plane.
The artist himself does not see his work as belonging to a category such as Minimalism or Concrete Art, but as a search for spiritual meaning. Federle travelled extensively, and became familiar with Buddhism, to which he feels a connection.
In 1997 Federle represented Switzerland at the Biennale in Venice. From 1999 to 2007 he was a professor for painting at the Düsseldorf Academy of Art.
Federle‘s works are in several museums, among them the Kunstmuseum Basel, Tate Modern, London and in Centre Pompidou, Paris.
In 2019 the Kunstmuseum Basel is presenting a solo exhibition of Federle’s work.