A new James Turrell light installation is set to transform the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum in Denmark when it opens to the public on June 19th, 2026. Titled As Seen Below – The Dome, this monumental Skyspace will be the largest and most ambitious work of the acclaimed American artist to date, spanning 40 meters in diameter and rising 16 meters high.
Designed in collaboration with Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, the installation forms the centerpiece of ARoS’s major expansion, which also includes a new subterranean gallery and outdoor exhibition space. Visitors will enter the Skyspace through a light-filled underground corridor that connects to the museum’s new Salling Gallery before emerging into the vast domed chamber.
Light and space artist redefines the experience of seeing
Known worldwide as a pioneering light and space artist, Turrell has spent over five decades exploring how light and perception can shape human experience. In this new installation, he once again turns architecture into an instrument for observing the sky.
Within the dome, a large circular aperture opens to the heavens, inviting natural light to pour into the space. The interior is bathed in monochromatic hues that shift throughout the day, transforming the color and mood of the environment. Rather than presenting an image, Turrell’s work encourages visitors to become aware of the very act of looking — an idea central to his artistic philosophy.
He has described As Seen Below as a work that “holds the sky close,” emphasizing that light itself becomes the subject, not merely a means of illumination.
Art and perception in motion
At its core, As Seen Below continues Turrell’s lifelong investigation into art and perception — how we see, how we feel light, and how time alters our understanding of both. The minimalist dome features tiered seating that wraps around a central pit, creating a contemplative environment where viewers can watch the shifting interplay between sky and color.
From dawn to dusk, the installation evolves, offering visitors a meditative encounter with space, atmosphere, and the passage of time. For many, it will be a rare opportunity to experience light as a physical, almost tangible presence.
As the ARoS Aarhus Art Museum prepares for the grand unveiling in 2026, As Seen Below promises to become a defining cultural landmark — a testament to James Turrell’s vision of transforming architecture into a vessel for perception itself.
Don’t miss this extraordinary installation when it opens to the public on June 19th, 2026.
Courtesy of AROS
Courtesy of AROS
Courtesy of AROS
Courtesy of AROS
Courtesy of AROS
