Pioneer artist James Turrell’s mastery of light takes center stage in AlUla
Wadi AlFann presents James Turrell, a landmark exhibition celebrating the work of the pioneering Light and Space artist James Turrell.
Running from January 16 to April 19, this immersive showcase is part of the AlUla Arts Festival and highlights the American artist’s transformative approach to light, perception, and space.
Turrell has been a leading figure of the Light and Space movement of the 1960s for over half a century and has dedicated his practice to perceptual art, investigating the materiality of light and the limits of human perception.
Visitors can explore Turrell’s signature light installations, architectural plans, and renders for the AlUla site, all designed to create what he calls the “thingness of light.”
A glimpse into Wadi AlFann’s vision
The exhibition includes plans for Turrell’s upcoming Wadi AlFann commission, where he will create a sequence of chambers embedded within the canyon floor, and is part of Wadi AlFann’s pre-opening program, designed to deepen public understanding of the commissioned artists’ practices.
Through a series of tunnels and stairs, visitors will experience an intricate interplay of space, color, and perception.
The large-scale work will incorporate sky and terrain, offering what Michael Govan describes as “an unforgettable experience” that examines the essence of seeing and connects art with AlUla’s awe-inspiring landscape.
“I first visited the Wadi AlFann site in 2020,” Turrell said.
“I was surprised that the sandstone formations looked very similar to those in Arizona. I was very familiar with that kind of landscape and strangely felt at home with doing work there. The work envisioned for Wadi AlFann will have two large
Skyspaces and two small Skyspaces that each address different aspects of sky. The light quality in AlUla is of dry desert air with little moisture, which yields a light in the sky that is crisp and clear.”
In a statement, Nora Aldabal, Director of Arts and Creative Industries at the Royal Commission for AlUla, said: “As we continue to celebrate the journey toward the opening of Wadi AlFann, we are delighted to present James Turrell’s extraordinary work as part of the AlUla Arts Festival 2025. This exhibition not only introduces our audiences to the pioneering Light and Space movement but also offers a unique preview of the monumental large-scale Land Art commission Turrell is creating for Wadi AlFann.”
Exhibition highlights
The exhibition features four works from the Royal Commission for AlUla and private collections, each highlighting Turrell’s mastery of light:
Alta (1968): A Cross Corner projection work that transforms a dim corner into a luminous pyramid, creating planes of pink-violet light that appear solid.
Jubilee, Circular Glass (2021): A hypnotic circular glass screen where colors gradually transition, mirroring the cosmic quality of Turrell’s future oculus at Wadi AlFann.
Magnatron series: Inspired by childhood memories of flickering TV lights seen through windows, this work captures a nostalgic interplay of light and memory.
Hologram series: A luminous geometric shape seemingly floats in space, blurring the lines between physical and intangible realms.
These works collectively offer a meditation on perception, which Turrell described as “the wordless thought that comes from looking at a fire.”
A celebration of art and nature
Located in AlJadidah Arts District, AlUla’s historic old town, the exhibition is a cornerstone of the AlUla Arts Festival, which runs from January 16 to February 22, 2025.
The festival invites visitors to explore art, design, and creativity set against AlUla’s ancient backdrop.
Over his fifty-year career, Turrell’s works have ranged from transforming enclosed spaces into boundless horizons of color, to building entire pavilions that capture the luminescence of the cosmos. His most legendary work is the epic Roden Crater, set in a volcanic cone in the Arizona desert.
Through this exhibition and Turrell’s forthcoming Wadi AlFann commission, AlUla is solidifying its reputation as a global hub for contemporary art, where the dialogue between creativity and nature is commonplace.
