Judd Foundation Opens Restored Ranch Office in Marfa

The Judd Foundation has unveiled the renovated Ranch Office of Donald Judd in downtown Marfa, a site that was once a grocery store acquired by the artist in 1991. This marks the latest addition to the 26 properties Judd secured in and around Marfa for public access. The Ranch Office previously functioned as the main office for his Ayala de Chinati ranch, which spans 33,000 acres in the Chinati Mountains. Visitors can now explore the restored basement and ground floors, showcasing eight wall relief sculptures and two floor box sculptures crafted from Douglas fir plywood, alongside ranching tools and maps. These sculptures reflect Judd's exploration of enclosed space through proportionally determined voids, as stated in a press release. Judd passed away in 1994 after founding the Chinati Foundation, which oversees permanent installations and historic preservation. Eleven of his properties are recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, the Donald Judd Architecture Office has recently reopened following a seven-year restoration, and the John Chamberlain Building, under the Chinati Foundation's management, was restored and opened in 2022, featuring 24 permanent artworks.