James
Turrell
James Turrell is an American artist recognised for his exploration of light and space, particularly through immersive installations and the ongoing Roden Crater project. If you're looking for original James Turrell prints and editions for sale or would like to sell, request a complimentary valuation and browse our network's most in-demand works.
James Turrell art for sale
Discover James Turrell prints for sale, exclusively available through our private network of collectors. Explore signed and unsigned screenprints, lithographs, digital prints, and rare editioned proof prints by era-defining blue chip artists.
Sell Your Art
with Us
with Us
Join Our Network of Collectors. Buy, Sell and Track Demand
Biography
James Turrell is known for his contributions to the Light And Space movement, which originated in Southern California during the 1960s. Born in Los Angeles in 1943, his artistic journey was shaped by his studies in perceptual psychology at Pomona College. Turrell's work centres on the qualities of light, creating environments that invite reflections on perception.
Turrell's installations reframe viewers' experiences of space and light. His most ambitious project, Roden Crater, initiated in 1977, is an ongoing project that transforms a dormant volcanic cinder cone in Arizona into a celestial observatory. Designed to capture both natural and crafted light, the site offers an immersive experience that deepens perception of the sky, linking the rhythms of celestial and geological time in a controlled, contemplative environment. This extensive project embodies Turrell's belief that art have a symbiotic relationship with the natural world.
Through his innovative installations, Turrell challenges the boundaries of sculpture and painting, inviting audiences to interact with the sensory aspects of light. His notable works, including the Skyspaces and Ganzfeld installations, reflect his exploration of the intricate relationship between light, space, and human perception.
A significant highlight in Turrell’s career was his 2013 exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, where he unveiled Aten Reign, a large-scale installation. In this work, Turrell transformed the museum space into a luminous Skyspace, using LED-lit elliptical rings around a core of natural daylight from the oculus. This immersive setup redefined the architectural space, drawing viewers into a meditative experience that employs light as a sculptural element.
In addition to his installations, Turrell has produced utilised printmaking to explore the interplay between light and perception. These prints often incorporate techniques that resonate with the immersive qualities of his larger installations, allowing audiences to connect with his artistic vision in a more intimate manner.
Beyond his large-scale installations, Turrell employed printmaking to investigate the relationship between light and perception. His 1989 etching Meeting exemplifies this approach, depicting soft gradations of light and shadow that create a sense of spatial depth, much like his installation works. In Meeting, the subtle tonal shifts evoke the quiet, atmospheric qualities found in Turrell’s Skyspaces, drawing viewers into a reflective experience of light as a material presence. Through printmaking, Turrell offers a focused encounter with light.