Rothko Chapel in Houston Celebrates 50th Anniversary After Restoration

The Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas, celebrated its 50th anniversary since opening to the public on February 26-28, 1971. Founded by collectors John and Dominique de Menil, the non-denominational chapel features 14 dark-toned murals by Mark Rothko, a leading Abstract Expressionist and Color Field painter. The chapel was designed by architects Philip Johnson, Howard Barnstone, and Eugene Aubry. Rothko committed suicide in New York shortly after completing the murals. Outside, Barnett Newman's Broken Obelisk, dedicated to Martin Luther King, stands in a reflecting pool. The anniversary coincides with the completion of the first phase of the Opening Spaces restoration and campus expansion project, led by Architecture Research Office and George Sexton Associates, with a $30 million investment. Renovations included updates to the vestibule, audio and security systems, and a new lighting system to enhance the Rothko paintings. Exterior improvements redefined green spaces and added a visitor welcome area on Sul Ross Street. Executive Director David Leslie noted the chapel's work is more urgent than ever, while Board President Michael Piana emphasized its role as a space for interfaith dialogue, human rights, and contemplation.