The Chinati Foundation

Waleska Torres-Toro

2024-04

It was a great experience to appreciate a large-scale exhibition. The mix of lights and shadows playing with the shapes and structures was quite an experience. If you enjoy art and walking to immerse yourself in the experience, you'll have a great time!

G Gates

2024-04

I can't speak for the guided tour experience but for the regular fifteen bucks there was virtually NOTHING to see. The giant concrete block walk was intensely boring, there are a few bumpers welded together, a nice handmade tile floor section that I honestly appreciated until reading an explanation about the "floating platform", including exact measurements. I just don't like paying to see things I know how to "create". We spent more time appreciating a single tree on the grounds.

Yetzielisse Urgelles

2024-01

This was an unexpected experience, to say the least. We bought tickets online for an open viewing at 11:15 AM, which includes the outdoor sculptures and access to the main 2 Donald Judd buildings (100 works). It was fine, didn’t think much of it without proper context.I asked about the Dan Flavin works, and we found out we needed to book a 2-hour guided tour to view them. We book the tickets for a few more bucks, grab lunch, then come back at 2 PM for the official tour. It was SO worth it. Side note: no photos (iphone or professional) are allowed inside of the private galleries.We ended up being the only two on the tour, so essentially got a private showing of the entire Chinati Foundation. Our tour guide, Dylan, was extremely attentive and knowledgeable. He re-walked us through Judd’s work, this time with context, and took us through the Dan Flavin buildings. We learned about the grounds’ history and ties to the military. The Flavin works played with our eyesight and perception of color, which was fun to experience.After the Dan Flavin buildings, we drove to the next location down the street for Robert Irwin’s exhibit, which was beautiful. The final destination was downtown, at the John Chamberlain exhibit, which was a bit wackier and unique compared to the prior works we saw.Overall a great excursion for art, geography, history lovers alike. Kudos to Dylan for an amazing tour full of historical context and sci-fi references.

Larry K

2024-04

Not impressed. One price for open air viewing and another price for a tour which includes the old hangar buildings. Just don't think it was worth it and it was on my to do list, bummer. Did get nice shots of the cement block because the sky was amazing blue with beautiful clouds.

Steven Flores

2023-09

A unique experience to visit where the unique scale of the artwork is intertwined with the vast landscape. The artworks are building sized and provide a unique experience. It is definitely something to visit and the primary reason to come out to Marfa. The artworks are vast and will take a few hours to visit. Thank you to our docent for a wonderful time with the art.

Uilicix

2023-05

Was fun, we did the self guided tour, but lots of walking out in the afternoon heat just to look at some concrete blocks and through some windows. While interesting, the heat got to me and I quit midway through looking at the blocks and went to the buildings with the windows you can look through. This place isn’t for everyone but, very cool.

Hannah Molyneux

2024-04

A fantastic experience. Whether you know Judd's work or not (I did not), a guided tour will allow you to really appreciate his skill and vision. A box is not a box. A space is more than its obvious elements. Unlike more gallery or museum spaces, there aren't any descriptions of any of the pieces. The intention is for the viewer to experience he work rather than have it presented to them. Take the guided tour (you'll break for lunch) - you won't regret it.

Dan Gilkison

2024-04

Our family did the Open Viewing the day before took the Selections Tour. Both were enjoyable, but the Selections Tour gives a deeper level of access that was worth the additional dollars to see Judd's aluminum boxes in the hangars, as well as Flavin's light installations. Sometimes a box is so much more than a box, if you're into that sort of thing. And we are!

chris chambers

2023-06

this is a fantastic art exhibition. and worth the cost of a guided tour. without the guide this would not have had any interest to me. but the stories and history of the art and location made the visit and the entire trip worth the time and money. thank you to Dillion our guide and the Chinati foundation for making a special place in Texas.

Tracy Sung

2022-05

A very average museum experience. We did the self guided tour, which was basically just walking around some concrete blocks and industrial buildings. We weren't allowed inside any of the structures, but were still charged the $15 admission fee. Wouldn't recommend coming here unless the weather is super nice as there's no shade and the blistering West Texas heat will get you down quick. Overall, really not worth the experience or trip out.

John Tarasi

2019-05

Great tour and experience. We went on the shorter 2 hour “selections tour”, which featured the main works of the space. There was plenty to see on this tour so I would recommend it unless you want to really get in-depth and spend the whole day on longer tour. We also walked around the “15 untitled works in concrete” after the tour for about an hour, so leave time to do that and to walk around the grounds as well.

Karol Gawrych

2019-05

Beautiful setting and grounds which are more than worthwhile for a pit stop. The rotating exhibitions are each interesting in their own way. A word of advice would be to check the online calendar to ensure you get there in time and reserve a spot for tours while they are being offered.

William Jennings

2024-04

The Chinati Foundation is one the best art venues in the country. It offers tours with knowledgeable and thoughtful guides and gives you a solid understanding of what the Foundations is trying to achieve and why this is such a special place to visit. The Chinati Foundation is the reason to visit Marfa, Texas.

Lou D

2024-03

Amazing modern art/minimalist/ sunlight/shadows/simplicity/enormity/history/immersive experience. Go with no expectations and view with curiosity!I’m an artist, but not ever considered to be a modern artist/ minimalist. But I went with an open mind and heart. There is more than one venue in Marfa TX. Ask around.And there is so much to see in Marfa otherwise!

RONALD PROTHRO

2024-04

Very interesting so many perspective of a basic cuboid shape. Amazing detail and precision. Aldo cool checking out the historical port of being a WWII Army Post.

Kenji Everitt

2020-05

I took a road trip from El Paso to Marfa to explore the artsy city and while in town my girlfriend had seen the concrete squares that Chinati had on display. We took a slight detour and went to check them out, its a very clean facility, a small gift shop, but nothing else was open other than the concrete blocks. It was interesting to see, but there was nothing really explaining why they were there or who had created them. Made for great photo opportunities, and just down the street is the Robert Irwin "untitled" art installation which is free as well.

Yair Segal

2024-04

In our opinion, there is really absolutely nothing to do here, at least if you don’t take the 2 hour guided tour (which we didn’t). Only a couple of small indoor spaces where there were very little few art exhibits, and concrete cubes.

irene reeneey

2023-11

My husband and I visited.I wished we hadn’t.Hardly any of the places were open to the public and what was barely had anything.Keep in mind the buildings may not even be open when you arrive. That happened to us and another pair.They were fumbling to open the exhibit areas that they said were open to the public that day.Yet you’re charged $15. There are plenty of free museums or lesser priced ones that I’ve visited with far more than what we saw.My husband and I were upset the whole time. Angry even.I love going to museums, but this is by far the worst experience I’ve had going to one.It wasn’t even a museum either in the usual sense of things either. It’s at an old army base.Save yourself a trip, and money, and go elsewhere. Anywhere else.

Kyle McCarthy

2022-05

Despite having the interior museums closed, they have done an interesting walking tour of the outdoor sculptures and allow you to peek into windows to see a lot of contemporary art. Not sure we understood all the art, but we did enjoy the visit and the beautiful old fort the Judd Foundation built on.

Gregory Dvorsky

2023-06

I have made the much anticipated pilgrimage, and it didn't disappoint. The art installations and our guide for the tours were first class. It was totally worth the trip. See it if you can.

alwaysdte

2020-05

It’s cool to check out, not every exhibit is free because they need to stay open obviously. We wanted to see a certain exhibit but it closed pretty early so we missed it.

Martin Ong

2022-05

I enjoyed this place. It isn’t for everyone. But knowing it was a converted military base and former German POW camp during world War 2 was interesting. Along with the countless number of artwork. When we went my wife is in the medical field and I believe military get a discount/visit for free depending on day. Worth a visit and walkthrough in my opinion.

Sarah S

2021-05

This is a really neat place. The art was fun to look at and explore. There was a lot of walking and not much shade. Due to COVID all of the buildings were closed so we missed out on a lot of things.

Shane Yoder

2023-05

I only saw the first exhibit before I had to leave... seemed pretentious, especially since they don't allow photos of the art inside the building. I'm not sure about the rest of it.

Lindsay Rohler

2019-05

I'm not an artist so this review may seem unfair, but I really was not able to fully appreciate this space. The outdoor exhibit was neat, but I was really disappointed that I couldn't bring my dog with me. He was on a leash and we had poo bags attached and it is in a huge field.... So when we were told not dogs were allowed anywhere on the premises, I was irritated. The two large buildings inside held many silver boxes. They were kind of neat to look at, but really they were just square metal boxes. Yes you could see how the light reflects differently on each one and I can appreciate the skill behind makin one of these peices, but large rooms full of them was a bit underwhelming.

Memory Collector

2023-05

The installation arts by Donald Judd as creating a sense of infinite possibility and variation. As I walked through the space, hhe shapes and forms of the artwork appeared to shift and evolve somehow.

RaeLyn Brummell

2019-05

A must see. Wow it's amazing how well thought out pieces. These boxes were like huge picture frames and you get the take on the beautiful landscape of the area. The open sky with big fluffy clouds, trees and far away mountains.

Jennifer Nixon

2022-05

We did the self guided walking tour which consists of a dirt trail to see the 15 works made of concrete blocks, a walk past old army base buildings and a peek in the windows at Judd's works in aluminum. We went early in the morning when it was cool and it took about an hour and 20 minutes with our 6 year old and a few stops for photos along the way. If this is your thing, you'll like it and enjoy it. If not, you might feel more like our daughter who thought the art was boring and liked keeping an eye out for snakes instead. For us, we were looking for a quiet place to stretch our legs after a long drive out and it was perfect.

Andrew Noonan

2021-05

Absolute and utter piss take. The foundation should be paying for people to come here, not the other way around.The exhibits sure are minimalist, not much to see here. Paying for a walk through the dry grass really makes you consider the life decisions that got you here.

A M

2019-05

One of the most surreal experiences I've ever had- stunning art works set in an extremely remote location . Military get free exhibits and teachers are only $5 dollars. Definitely do not miss this !