James Turrell

For nearly three decades James Turrell has used light, distance, and space in his work to create some of the most unique, visually stunning pieces of modern art. His goal is to create illusions and perceptions for the human eye. When asked about his work, James Turrell once said, “I am really interested in the qualities of one space sensing another. It is like looking at someone looking. Objectivity is gained by being once removed. As you plumb a space with vision, it is possible to 'see yourself see’. This seeing, this plumbing, imbues space with consciousness."

James Turrell was born in Los Angeles in 1943. He attended school at Pomona College focusing on psychology and mathematics. Only after graduating did he pursue an interest in art. Turrell’s work involves light and space that speak without words, impacting mind and the body. “I want to create an atmosphere that can be consciously plumbed with seeing,” Turrell said, “like the wordless thought that comes from looking in a fire.”

Located near the Grand Canyon and Arizona’s Painted Desert is Roden Crater, an extinct volcano which the artist has been in the