Rothco Chapel | BOOK | RIZZOLI ELECTA | 132pages | Hard cover | 260 x 287mm | 2021

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the world-famous Rothco Chapel, this book introduces the newly restored building and campus through photographs and academic materials.

Rothko Chapel is a sacred space that transcends religion in Houston, with 14 modernist paintings painted by Mark Rothko, a pioneer of abstract expressionism, and contributes to the human rights, art and spirituality of the world. Founded in 1971 by artists and philanthropists Dominique and John de Menil, the chapel has given maximum confidence in Rothco's vision to express the profound, miraculous and holiness of the human spirit, making it an oasis of intelligence and spirit.
This large-format book features photographs and scholars' views of this ecumenical sacred place, featuring the evocative sacred site where visitors seek healing and inspiration. Pamela Smart talks about the spiritual aspect, while Stephen Fox places the architecture within the Houston context.
The chapel has been rebuilt inside an expanded campus, enhancing the experience for many visitors. As viewers sit quietly or move through the calm octagonal atmosphere, the reinstalled skylights better represent the nuances of Rothko's powerful panels, allowing them to deepen their connection with the outdoors as the circumstances change, such as when clouds pass through the sky.