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Chinati Foundation to restore Donald Judd's Marfa artillery sheds, moving 100 aluminium works

cultural-heritage · 2026-08-19

This autumn, the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas, will initiate the restoration of two former artillery sheds, which signifies the first relocation of Donald Judd's 100 untitled works in mill aluminium (1982–86) since their original installation over four decades ago. The relocation is essential due to infrastructure repairs, following the buildings’ addition to the National Register of Historic Places last year. Judd purchased the sheds in the late 1970s to establish a museum dedicated to site-specific art. Collaborating on the project are Schaum Architects and the Getty Conservation Institute, focusing on enhancements for passive-air circulation and energy efficiency. The 39th annual Chinati Weekend, scheduled for 9–11 October, provides a last opportunity to see the sheds before renovations commence in November.

Key facts

  • Restoration of the artillery sheds begins in autumn 2026.
  • Donald Judd's 100 untitled works in mill aluminium (1982–86) will be moved for the first time in over 40 years.
  • The sheds were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2025 as part of the Donald Judd Historic District.
  • Judd purchased Fort D.A. Russell in the late 1970s.
  • Fort D.A. Russell was built in 1939 by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
  • The restoration team includes Schaum Architects, Alfred Lippincott, and the Getty Conservation Institute.
  • No mechanical climate control will be installed; a passive-air system will be used.
  • The project includes energy-efficient glass, rainwater harvesting, native grasses, improved pathways, and roof repairs.
  • The 39th annual Chinati Weekend, 9–11 October, is the last chance to see the works before work begins in November.
  • The John Chamberlain building, restored in 2022, serves as a model for this restoration.

Entities

Artists

  • Donald Judd
  • Dan Flavin
  • Roni Horn
  • Carl Andre
  • Robert Irwin
  • John Chamberlain
  • Alfred Lippincott
  • Caitlin Murray
  • Alex Marks

Institutions

  • Chinati Foundation
  • US Army Corps of Engineers
  • National Register of Historic Places
  • Schaum Architects
  • Getty Conservation Institute
  • Artists Rights Society

Locations

  • Marfa
  • Texas
  • United States
  • Fort D.A. Russell
  • Chihuahuan Desert
  • New York

Sources