James Turrell Creates Illuminated Skylight in NYC School

Whether in the desert, Colorado mountains or even Norway, James Turrell is known for his signature installations that harness the power of light. Now, the artist has brought his signature aesthetic back to New York City by installing an illuminated skylight at a private school.

The latest work is apart of Turrell’s Skyspaces series which includes 85 works in total internationally. Entitled “Leading Skyspace,” the skylight is located at Friend Seminary school in Manhattan’s East Village neighborhood. The skylight is installed within a small chamber room that features wood seating. Offering “a unique and personal experience of the sky” says Turrell, the skylight is complete with color-changing LED lights – also nodding to the American artist’s key play with rich and vibrant colors. 

“Turrell’s Skyspaces are specifically proportioned chambers where viewers have a unique and personal experience of the sky through a knife-edged aperture in the roof,” said the artist’s team. “During the day, the aperture will be closed, and an immersive light show will be displayed, providing an artful extension of the campus. During sunset, the aperture will be opened, and the space will be exposed to the unobstructed sky, with a curated internal light sequence that complements the nuances of those times.”

Take a look at the skylight in the gallery above. For more details about how to visit “Leading Skyspace,” check out the website here.