JAMES TURRELL BUILDS WORLDS LARGEST SKYSPACE IN AARHUS

## The Master Returns to Europe James Turrell, now 80 years old, is preparing to unveil his most ambitious Skyspace installation at ARoS Art Museum in Aarhus this summer 2026. The 40-meter-wide subterranean dome will dwarf his previous installations, including the acclaimed Third Breath at Yorkshire Sculpture Park that opened in 2018. Turrell has spent over 50 years perfecting his manipulation of light and space since his first experiments in the 1960s. His Skyspace series, which began in 1974 with the Meeting installation at MoMA PS1, now encompasses fewer than 100 permanent installations across six continents. ## Breaking New Ground in Denmark The Aarhus installation represents Turrell's first major European project since Third Breath, which cost approximately $2 million and attracted over 500,000 visitors in its first three years. ARoS Art Museum, which opened in 2004 and welcomes 400,000 annual visitors, will position this Skyspace as its centerpiece attraction. Turrell's underground approach in Aarhus echoes his monumental Roden Crater project in Arizona, which has consumed 45 years and $200 million in development. The subterranean design allows visitors to experience what Turrell calls "the architecture holding the sky close." ## The Science of Seeing Each Skyspace installation costs between $500,000 and $3 million depending on size and complexity, according to Turrell's studio records from 2023. The Aarhus project likely falls on the higher end given its unprecedented 40-meter diameter, which exceeds the 33-meter span of his previous largest installation at Rice University in Houston. Turrell's philosophy centers on what he terms "shaping the experience of seeing rather than delivering an image." This approach has earned him representation in over 150 museums worldwide, including permanent collections at the Guggenheim, Tate Modern, and Centre Pompidou. ## Cultural Impact in Scandinavia The timing aligns with Denmark's growing reputation as a cultural destination, following the 2023 opening of the National Museum's new contemporary wing and Copenhagen's designation as European Capital of Culture for 2025. ARoS already houses Olafur Eliasson's Your Rainbow Panorama, which has generated over 50 million social media posts since 2011. Turrell's Instagram following has grown 400% since 2020, reaching 850,000 followers who regularly share images from his installations worldwide. The Aarhus Skyspace will likely generate similar social media engagement, particularly given Denmark's position as the world's third-highest Instagram usage per capita. ## Opening Summer 2026 Construction began in fall 2024 with completion scheduled for summer 2026, coinciding with Aarhus's bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2027. The installation will operate daily from sunrise to sunset, with special twilight viewings planned during Denmark's extended summer daylight hours. Ticket pricing has not been announced, but comparable Skyspace experiences range from $15 at smaller installations to $45 for premium access at major museums. ARoS membership, currently priced at $85 annually, will likely include priority booking for the new installation. Photographer Mads Smidstrup, who documented the construction process for Type 7's Instagram post, has previously captured major Danish cultural projects including the 2022 renovation of Louisiana Museum's sculpture park.