James Turrell

James Turrell is an American artist known for working with light, space, and perception rather than traditional materials like paint or stone. Born in 1943 in Los Angeles, he became associated with the Light and Space movement in Southern California. His artworks often use carefully controlled natural or artificial light to shape how viewers experience a room or environment. Turrell designs spaces where light appears solid or where boundaries between walls and ceilings seem to dissolve. One of his most significant long-term projects is the transformation of an extinct volcano in Arizona into a large-scale artwork focused on celestial observation. His installations are typically quiet and minimal, encouraging slow looking and awareness of vision itself. Through his work, Turrell explores how humans see, sense, and understand space, making perception the central subject of his art.