James Turrell: The groundbreaking pioneer
James Turrell: The groundbreaking pioneer
Portrait of James Turrell. Photo: Morten Fauerby, 2015.
He became a certified pilot at a young age and has spent significant time in the air, developing a deep interest in light, the colours of the sky and the nature of perception. Turrell has described flying as a meditative experience - being absorbed by the sky and its vastness - and how light and colour shift with altitude, time of day and weather conditions. These observations have profoundly shaped his understanding of space and light and inform his ability to create works that play with our sense of reality.
Flying taught me to value the horizon as an important boundary between earth and sky. It’s this line I try to work with in many of my pieces.
Alongside his pilot training, Turrell has a background in psychology and, in the 1960s, joined the Light and Space movement, finding his calling in creating experiences that reshape how we see - and feel - light.
I don’t work with light to shape light,” he has said. “I work with light to shape how we perceive.
This sentence captures his approach: breaking with traditional art forms to create spaces that are not simply viewed but that change our awareness and are experienced with the whole body.
Although the Skyspaces are his best-known works, Roden Crater in Arizona is Turrell’s magnum opus. Transforming a volcanic cone into an observatory for light, this lifetime project has been in development since 1977 and is not yet completed.
James Turrell, As Seen Below – The Dome, a Skyspace by James Turrell. Photo: Mads Smidstrup © ARoS, 2025. From James Turrells visit in As Seen Below, June 2025.
James Turrell's Skyspaces
James Turrell has created more than 100 Skyspaces worldwide. Below is a selection of ten of the most frequently cited examples across different countries.
Meeting (1986) – MoMA PS1, Queens, New York, USA
An early Skyspace in which a rectangular ceiling opening offers a direct view of the sky and creates a meditative experience.
Space That Sees (1992) – Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel
One of Turrell’s most renowned Skyspaces, with a square opening formed of white concrete and integrated light.
House of Light (1997) – Tokamachi, Japan
Designed for overnight stays and contemplation, this Skyspace combines traditional Japanese aesthetics with Turrell’s light design.
Deer Shelter Skyspace (2006)
– Yorkshire Sculpture Park, UK
An underground Skyspace offering an intense experience of light and nature in the English countryside.
Within Without (2010)
– National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, Australien
An iconic work featuring a reflecting pool and a domed opening that captures the colours of the sky.
Twilight Epiphany (2012) – Rice University, Houston, USA
A pyramidal Skyspace with LED sequences synchronised to sunrise and sunset to create a dynamic experience.
Gathered Sky (2012) – Temple Hotel, Beijing, Kina
A Skyspace that incorporates elements of Chinese culture and offers a unique light experience in a historic setting.
The Color Inside (2013) – University of Texas, Austin, USA
An elliptical Skyspace with a distinct LED programme that highlights shifting sky hues.
Amarna (2015)
– Museum of Old and New Art, Hobart, Tasmanien, Australien
Named after an Egyptian city, this work emphasises subtle transitions between daylight and artificial light.
Ta Khut Skyspace (2021)
– Posada Ayana, José Ignacio, Uruguay
Inspired by Egyptian culture, this Skyspace creates a transcendent connection between sky and earth in South America.