Photo: Jocelyn Augustino / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
James Turrell is credited as a land artist, photographer and psychologist. Born on May 6, 1943, James Turrell is from Los Angeles, California, United States. That works out to 83 years old in 2026. Education on record includes Pasadena High School and Claremont Graduate University. Listed accolades include Guggenheim Fellowship, MacArthur Fellows Program, National Medal of Arts and 2 more.
My Take
James Turrell is one of those artists who makes you question whether you're looking at something or experiencing it — and that distinction is exactly the point. Born in Los Angeles in 1943, he spent decades turning light itself into his medium, not painting with it or photographing it, but sculpting with it in ways that mess with your perception so completely you start to doubt your own eyes. His Roden Crater project, a dormant volcano in Arizona he's been transforming into a naked-eye observatory since the 1970s, is arguably one of the most ambitious and patient artistic undertakings in American history. The MacArthur Fellowship, the National Medal of Arts, the 2021 Praemium Imperiale — the honors are well-earned, but honestly, stepping into one of his Skyspace installations at twilight and watching the sky change colors above you is worth more than any award.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- James Turrell
- Name (Japanese)
- ジェームズ・タレル
- Reading
- じぇーむず・たれる
- Born
- May 6, 1943 (age 83)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Taurus / Goat
- Origin
- Los Angeles, California, United States
- Occupation
- artist / land artist / photographer / psychologist / mathematician
2. Background
- High school
- Pasadena High School
- University
- Claremont Graduate University
Awards & achievements
- Guggenheim Fellowship
- MacArthur Fellows Program
- National Medal of Arts
- 2021 Praemium Imperiale
- 2007 Marsh Award for Excellence in Public Sculpture
3. Works & records
Filmography / notable works
| Category | Title |
|---|---|
| Notable work | Acton |
| Notable work | Stuck Red/Stuck Blue |
| Notable work | UIC Skyspace |
4. Links
- Official sitehttps://jamesturrell.com
- Wikipedia (English)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James%20Turrell
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%B8%E3%82%A7%E3%83%BC%E3%83%A0%E3%82%BA%E3%83%BB%E3%82%BF%E3%83%AC%E3%83%AB
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q740966
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was James Turrell born?
Born May 6, 1943 (age 83).
Where is James Turrell from?
James Turrell is from Los Angeles, California, United States.
What does James Turrell do?
James Turrell works as artist, land artist, photographer, psychologist, mathematician.
What is James Turrell known for?
Notable works include Acton, Stuck Red/Stuck Blue, UIC Skyspace.