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Artist James Turrell donates 'Skyspace' worth $1 million to Mattress Factory

Artist James Turrell donates 'Skyspace' worth $1 million to Mattress Factory

The Mattress Factory announced today that internationally acclaimed artist James Turrell is gifting them one of his Skyspaces for the permanent collection. The work has an estimated value of at least $1 million and is the largest artist gift received by the North Side contemporary installation art museum.

A Skyspace is a chamber from which a visitor may observe the sky through an open aperture in the ceiling. Benches often line the walls, as they did in the 2002 Skyspace Mr. Turrell constructed in the museum’s parking lot for its 25th anniversary exhibition. The artist was in Pittsburgh last week to finalize plans for the construction and installation of the new work, which is to be completed for the museum’s 40th anniversary celebration in 2017.

The museum has had a long-standing relationship with the artist, who was an early force in the Light and Space Movement in Southern California, and has three other Turrell works in its permanent collection.

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“This work will not only be an incredible contribution to the Mattress Factory but also to the city of Pittsburgh,” said museum co-director and president Barbara Luderowski in the press release.

 “It’s an honor to receive a piece from someone whom we’ve worked with for over 30 years,” added co-director Michael Olijnyk.

M. Thomas: mthomas@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1925.

First Published: January 25, 2016, 10:01 p.m.

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This Skyspace, titled "Unseen Blue," was created by artist James Turrell for a 2002 exhibition at the Mattress Factory museum. It includes a bench. The artist has gifted a Skyspace to the museum to be installed in 2017.
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