James Turrell’s largest museum skyspace opens at ARoS Aarhus Art Museum in Denmark
James Turrell’s largest Skyspace ever created within a museum has opened at ARoS Aarhus Art Museum in Aarhus, Denmark, marking a significant milestone for both the artist and the institution. Unveiled ahead of the summer solstice, As Seen Below – The Dome is Turrell’s 100th Skyspace and his most ambitious to date. Measuring 16 metres in height and 40 metres in diameter, the work introduces a monumental new architectural presence to the museum while adding one of the most important contemporary art installations to Denmark’s cultural landscape.
As Seen Below – The Dome, James Turrell, ARoS Aarhus Art Museum in Aarhus, Denmark. Image courtesy of MTotoe/ FLO London
Visitors arrive at the artwork through an underground corridor before entering a vast domed chamber filled with Turrell’s carefully composed light environments. A large circular opening in the roof reveals the sky directly above the space. The installation can be experienced in several modes, from an open-sky configuration to programmed colour sequences and special twilight sessions at sunrise and sunset, with light and atmospheric conditions changing the type of experience.
As Seen Below – The Dome, James Turrell, ARoS Aarhus Art Museum in Aarhus, Denmark. Image courtesy of MTotoe/ FLO London
The project also represents a major feat of architecture and engineering. Realised through a collaboration between Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, structural engineers COWI and main contractor Per Aarsleff A/S, the dome demanded an exceptional level of technical expertise to bring Turrell’s vision into reality. The result is not only a significant artwork but also an architectural and engineering achievement, demonstrating the scale of ambition behind the museum’s expansion programme.
As Seen Below – The Dome, James Turrell, ARoS Aarhus Art Museum in Aarhus, Denmark. Image courtesy of MTotoe/ FLO London
Its opening completes a transformative chapter for ARoS, following the introduction of new exhibition spaces and public areas as part of a wider development project. For the museum, As Seen Below is both a major addition to the collection and a statement of intent, reinforcing its position among Europe’s foremost institutions for large-scale contemporary art. For Turrell, meanwhile, the work is a landmark achievement within a career that has spent more than fifty years exploring the possibilities of light, architecture and human perception.
Click here for a visual preview.
As Seen Below – The Dome marks Turrell’s 100th Skyspace and will open on 19 June 2026. For details on twilight sessions and to book tickets, visit aros.dk
