Back in the 1970s, minimalist artist Donald Judd left his life in NYC and moved to Marfa, Texas in search of authenticity and to escape the commercial art scene with which he had grown dissatisfied. In this remote desert town, with the help of the Dia Art Foundation, he acquired an entire army base that he then transformed into a permanent artspace to showcase his artworks and those of other artists such as Dan Flavin, Claes Oldenburg and John Chamberlain in an unconventional museum setting.
After Judd’s death in 1994, the site became an art museum based upon his ideas. All 400 acres of the site are run by the Chinati Foundation. The primary emphasis is on works in which art and the surrounding land are interconnected. Be sure not to miss Judd’s exploration of space with his 15 giant concrete boxes scattered across the remote pastureland surrounding the foundation. The quality of design and art creates a remarkable art space to visit and has put Marfa, Texas on the art world’s map. The foundation allows you to get close to his work and his philosophy. Anyone interested in Donald Judd, minimalism or modern art and design must go.
The Studio’s guided visits provide access to a selection of Juddʼs downtown spaces, including the Architecture Studio, Art Studio, and the Cobb House and Whyte Building. These spaces contain furniture by Judd, his early paintings from the 1950s and 1960s, a wide range of modernist and period furniture, and works by other prominent 20th-century artists and designers.
Guided visits provide access to Judd’s three main studios, which show his early work, and his personal library, which houses his collection of over 13,000 books.
The Studios (Architecture Studio, Art Studio and the Cobb and Whyte Houses) are open Friday and Saturday, 1:30-3:15pm. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 2pm-3:45pm. Advance reservations are required.
The Judd Foundation is open every day from 11am-6pm apart from Wednesday when it is closed; 104 S Highland Ave, Marfa, TX 79843, United States; juddfoundation.org/visit/marfa/
By Scarlet Bailey Tait. Scarlet is based in London and specialises in writing about art
