Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, Nancy Holt emerged as a significant artist in the late 1960s and 1970s. Her practice was deeply rooted in the exploration of perception, time, and the relationship between the built environment and the natural landscape.

Holt is widely recognized for her use of concrete, steel, and earth to create immersive, site-specific sculptures that often incorporate astronomical alignments. Beyond her sculptural work, she was a prolific filmmaker and photographer, documenting the processes behind her land art and exploring the intersection of human vision and the physical world.

Her legacy is currently managed by the Holt/Smithson Foundation, which oversees her extensive archive and body of work. In 2026, the gallery Sprüth Magers announced its global representation of her estate, further cementing her status as a central figure in 20th-century art history.