Rothko Chapel
A nondenominational meditation space with 14 monumental black paintings by Rothko, with Barnett Newman's Broken Obelisk standing in front.
Commissioned by John and Dominique de Menil and completed in 1971, this octagonal nondenominational chapel holds just 14 huge paintings by the abstract expressionist Mark Rothko, in deep purple that verges on black. The light changes with the sky, making it well suited to quiet sitting and meditation. In the reflecting pool outside stands Barnett Newman's sculpture Broken Obelisk, dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. Admission is free. Inside, visitors are asked to keep silent and not take photos. It can be visited on foot together with the Menil Collection.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 10:00–17:00 (closed Mondays)
Nearby sights
- The Menil Collection
- Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
- Holocaust Museum Houston
- Houston Museum of Natural Science
- Hermann Park
- Children's Museum Houston
- Rice University
- Houston Zoo