Chinati Foundation Announces Restoration of Judd's Artillery Sheds in Marfa
The Facts
On August 19, 2026, the Chinati Foundation announced a capital campaign to restore the two artillery sheds that house Donald Judd's seminal installation, "100 untitled works in mill aluminum," in Marfa, Texas. The buildings, originally built to house trucks and artillery, have suffered persistent leaks since Judd capped them with corrugated steel roofs in the 1970s. Stephen Martin, the foundation’s director of preservation and planning, said that during heavy rainstorms, staff sometimes place 100 buckets inside to catch water. The project aims to address these structural issues while preserving the experience of Judd's site-specific work according to his artistic intentions, said executive director Caitlin Murray.
The Signal
The restoration signals a major institutional commitment to one of the most significant postwar art environments in the United States. The Chinati Foundation, which transformed Marfa into a global art destination, is treating the sheds not merely as functional buildings but as integral components of Judd's carefully calibrated relationship between art, architecture, and landscape. For collectors and curators, the work underscores the increasing value placed on preserving artist-driven installations in situ, particularly those that challenge conventional gallery and museum frameworks. The campaign also highlights the long-term care required for large-scale minimal and conceptual works that are inseparable from their architectural settings.
- Artists: Donald Judd
- People: Stephen Martin, Caitlin Murray
- Museums: Chinati Foundation
- Locations: Marfa
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