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Open 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Visit
Open today 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Admission is always free

6th and Constitution Ave NW
Washington, DC 20565

Sculpture Garden Extended Hours

Open late until 8:00 p.m. on select nights
Through September 5
Exhibitions & Events
Featured event:

Block Party
Join us June 6
Art & Artists
Open Call

Artists Reimagining the Collection
Meet the 50 makers selected from more than 1,600 submissions

Deep Sky

1984

James Turrell

Associated Names

James Turrell

Artist, American, born 1943

Peter Kneubühler

Printer, Swiss, 1944 - 1999

Mario Diacono

Author, Italian

Chuck Endo

Cabinetmaker, American

This is a photograph of a rectangular wooden panel with text. The panel features a natural wooden texture with vertical grain patterns in warm brown. At the bottom of the panel, there are words printed in a black, modern font: "JAMES TURRELL" on the left and "DEEP SKY" on the right. The bottom right corner contains the words "PETER BLUM EDITION" in smaller text.

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Artwork overview

Medium

portfolio of seven aquatints in black on BFK Rives paper, bound text, title page, and colophon
Credit Line

Gift of the Collectors Committee
Dimensions

image: 32.1 x 49.4 cm (12 5/8 x 19 7/16 in.)
sheet: 53.7 x 68.7 cm (21 1/8 x 27 1/16 in.)
with accessories: 60.3 x 74.9 x 4.8 cm (23 3/4 x 29 1/2 x 1 7/8 in.)
Accession Number

1996.76.1.1-7

The image shows a vast dark landscape at night. A large triangular dark form dominates the composition, resembling a hill or mountain. The horizon line is not distinct as it merges with the dark mass, giving the illusion of the terrain reaching the sky. The brushwork is smooth and uniform, creating a solid opaque look for the mountain and surrounding darkness. The color palette is monochrome, mainly deep blacks and slight grays, with some faint bright spots resembling stars in the sky. — Untitled

James Turrell, Peter Kneubühler, Mario Diacono, Chuck Endo

1984

The image shows concentric arch-like shapes forming a gradient from dark to light, converging towards the center. The design suggests an abstract horizon or sunrise. The shapes resemble a tunnel or portal, with the gradient resembling layers of an eggshell or tree rings. The scene is bordered by a dark rectangular frame, adding depth to the depiction. The symmetrical arrangement may evoke looking through a telescope or a stage curtain parting to reveal a bright focal point. — Untitled

James Turrell, Peter Kneubühler, Mario Diacono, Chuck Endo

1984

The image displays bold, geometric shapes with strong, angular lines that create depth and dimension. It is an abstract artwork featuring a central rectangular form with two darker triangular shapes stretching from the sides, converging into a narrow slit of light at the center. The sharp contrasts and shapes guide the eye towards the central point, giving a sense of looking through a darkened corridor. — Untitled

James Turrell, Peter Kneubühler, Mario Diacono, Chuck Endo

1984

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Peter Blum Edition), New York; Joshua P. Smith, Washington, DC; purchased 1996 by NGA.

Associated Names

Smith, Joshua P.

Bibliography

1985

Ratcliff, Carter. "James Turrell's Deep Sky." The Print Collector's Newsletter Vol. XVI No. 2 (1985): 45-47.

Inscriptions

each print signed and numbered

Watermarks

BFK RIVES

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