James Turrell: A Retrospective

The only comprehensive volume on James Turrell is back in print, featuring his early prints and light projections to his monumental Roden Crater project. This book explores Turrell's diverse and exciting body of work, influenced by his life experiences with aviation, science, and psychology, and his involvement in the Los Angeles art scene of the 1960s. It includes an in-depth look at Roden Crater, a site-specific intervention into the landscape near Flagstaff, Arizona.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 04 July 2023
Publisher: Distributed Art Publishers

The much-anticipated reprint of the only comprehensive volume on James Turrell is now available, encompassing a vast range of his artistic endeavors from early prints and light projections to his groundbreaking Roden Crater project. This definitive book delves into the origins and motivations behind Turrell's diverse and captivating body of work, spanning from his formative days in his Mendota studio to his monumental ongoing project, Roden Crater. Whether Turrell projects shapes onto a flat wall or into the corner of a gallery space, he consistently invites us to immerse ourselves in the embrace of light, drawing upon his Quaker upbringing. In fact, his life experiences in aviation, science, and psychology have profoundly influenced all aspects of his artistic journey.

Enhanced by insightful essays and an illuminating interview with the artist, this monograph offers a comprehensive exploration of Turrell's career, encompassing his early geometric light projections, prints, and drawings, his installations that explore sensory deprivation and seemingly unmodulated fields of colored light, and his two-dimensional experiments with holograms. Furthermore, the book provides an in-depth look at Roden Crater, a site-specific intervention into the landscape near Flagstaff, Arizona, presented through models, plans, photographs, and drawings.

For fans of this highly influential artist, this wide-ranging and visually stunning book is a treasure trove, featuring specially commissioned photography by Florian Holzherr.

Born in 1943, James Turrell initially pursued psychology and mathematics as his academic pursuits, only transitioning to art at the Master of Fine Arts level. His remarkable talent and dedication have earned him numerous prestigious awards, including Guggenheim and MacArthur fellowships. Currently residing in Arizona, Turrell continues to push the boundaries of artistic expression, leaving an indelible mark on the world of art.

Weight: 2254g
Dimension: 309 x 257 x 39 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781636810799