James Turrell’s GOMA light installation

For more than half a century, international artist James Turrell (United States, b.1943) has worked with light and space to create immersive and moving artworks that play with viewers’ perceptions. Turrell’s major light installation will illuminate the facade of GOMA in Brisbane from 7.00pm, then from dusk until 12 midnight daily.

QAGOMA Director Chris Saines confirmed today the eastern and southern facades of the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) would be completely transformed from dusk until 12 midnight daily by the ambitious, much anticipated new light installation.

Experience first-hand Turrell’s artwork – an ever-evolving pattern of intensifying and diffusing coloured light. The activation of Turrell’s artwork onsite is a unique milestone in the history of GOMA, the Queensland Cultural Centre and Brisbane. Turrell will be joining us for this momentous occasion, a public celebration on the Maiwar Green lawn outside GOMA.

RELATED: James Turrell For more than half a century, international artist James Turrell has worked with light and space to create immersive and moving artworks that play with viewers’ perceptions.

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Indicative image of James Turrell architectural light installation at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art

Indicative image of James Turrell architectural light installation at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art / View full image

Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane

Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane / View full image

During the development of GOMA, lead architects Kerry Clare, Lindsay Clare and James Jones envisaged an artist-illuminated ‘white box’ on the Gallery’s main pedestrian approaches. More than a decade on, Turrell’s architectural light installation realises the potential of GOMA’s white box façade, and completes a major aspect of the architects’ original design intention.

This work will transform the way local, interstate and international audiences experience the building at night. Turrell’s large-scale luminous installation for GOMA is a first for the artist and unique in terms of the many other light works he has created in and on buildings and within the landscape around the world. The installation is a fantastic addition to GOMA and will further enhance it’s reputation as a world-class cultural tourism destination.

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The Queensland Government has contributed funds towards the development of this ambitious commission and QAGOMA has also received an outstanding lead donation from Paul and Susan Taylor, along with generous contributions from The Neilson Foundation and donors to the 2017 QAGOMA Foundation Appeal to realise this iconic addition to Brisbane’s cityscape.

Feature image: Indicative image of James Turrell’s architectural light installation at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)

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