Best Cities to Experience Art Around the Globe
Deep in the Heart of {Marfa} Texas
The otherworldly, dramatic landscape of West Texas, dominated by the Chihuahuan Desert and widely known as the Big Bend Region, houses a small city shrouded in mystery and cloaked in fine art. The hidden gem of Marfa, Texas, serves as home to far more than desert dwelling creatures. The beauty and mystery of the landscape attracts the many creative souls whose work decorates the town.
The Chinati Foundation, founded by artist Donald Judd, brings formidably sized art installations. Visitors can explore the contemporary works, many of which are inextricably linked to the unique landscape. The iconic Prada installation by Elmgreen & Dragset can be found in Marfa as well, appearing as a standard storefront, though in actuality it is an impenetrable fortress with locked doors. The Prada ‘store’ is an offshoot of Ballroom Marfa, a cultural arts center that serves as home to rotating exhibitions. In addition to these larger institutions, a plethora of smaller artist-run galleries and local exhibition spaces are plentiful, including Ann Marie Nafziger Studio featuring the abstract work of the eponymous painter and Art Blackburn, which features fine tribal art sourced from around the world. Greasewood Gallery is another fantastic place to view the work of regional artists, and it is conveniently located within Hotel Paisano, a historic and elegant building operating since the 1930s.
After taking in all the daytime sights, the Marfa Lights, an inexplicable natural phenomenon that casts floating orbs in the dark desert sky, is visible on clear nights and is the main attraction for the area. People come from all over the globe just to catch a glimpse of this unexplained light show.
-by Abby L. Johnson
