Rothko Chapel, Non-denominational chapel and art museum in Houston, United States
The Rothko Chapel is an octagonal brick building with an art museum in the Montrose neighborhood of Houston, Texas. The fourteen dark-toned murals are distributed across three walls in the form of triptychs and individual paintings, creating a restrained interior without denominational symbols.
The de Menil couple commissioned the painter in 1964 to design a meditation space open to all faiths. The dedication took place in 1971, shortly after the artist's death in 1970.
The name refers to the fourteen large canvases by the abstract expressionist that line the interior and invite quiet contemplation. People of different faiths use the space for personal meditation or attend events on human rights topics.
The main chapel is currently under renovation, and visitors can enter the Welcome House from Tuesday to Sunday between 11 AM and 5 PM. Access is wheelchair-friendly and the atmosphere invites quiet lingering.
In front of the entrance stands the over 26-foot-tall (8 meters) Broken Obelisk by Barnett Newman, dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. The tip of the sculpture does not touch the ground but seems to float in the air.
Location: Houston
Inception: 1971
Architects: Philip Johnson, Howard Barnstone, Eugene Aubry
Creator: Mark Rothko
Architectural style: modern architecture
Fee: No
Address: 1409 Sul Ross Ave.
Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 10:00-18:00
Website: https://rothkochapel.org
GPS coordinates: 29.73750,-95.39611
Latest update: December 12, 2025 18:04
Houston offers a range of places where science, culture, and nature come together. Visitors can explore the history of space travel at Space Center Houston and see real spacecraft up close. Museums such as the Houston Museum of Natural Science and The Museum of Fine Arts display collections from...
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