Chinati Foundation

Chinati Foundation is an art museum in Marfa that spans former military buildings and displays large-scale art installations integrated with the desert landscape. The works remain permanently installed and form a cohesive experience with the surrounding terrain.

Donald Judd founded the institution in 1986 by transforming the abandoned Fort Russell into an exhibition space. This conversion of a military site into an art venue marked the start of a new cultural use of the region.

The collection features minimalist works with concrete and aluminum pieces by international artists that blend into the desert setting. Visitors experience how these reduced forms create a conversation with the surrounding landscape.

Visitors reach the installations via marked pathways across the desert landscape, with guided tours providing access to the full collection. Advance reservations are necessary to experience all outdoor areas and interior spaces.

The artworks were deliberately positioned to interact with changing daylight, causing their appearance to vary throughout the day. This subtle relationship with light and time creates a different experience on multiple visits.

GPS coordinates: 30.29907,-104.02634

Latest update: December 7, 2025 19:26