The Rothko Chapel has announced its temporary closure after suffering severe damage during Hurricane Beryl. The Category 5 storm that hit Houston on July 8 caused leaks and water damage to the church’s roof, affecting the building and three of the iconic Mark Rothko panels inside. The extent of the damage has not been determined and the Rothko Chapel will be closed until further notice.
David Leslie said: “The church’s continued stewardship of this beloved cultural and sacred site, famous for its Mark Rothko panel, remains our top priority and closing the church will ensure it can Carry out necessary repairs and restorations efficiently and completely as required “Our focus now is on restoring the building and panels and continuing our mission of contemplation and action at the intersection of art, spirituality and human rights. “
Founded in 1971 by art collectors John and Dominique de Menil, the Rothko Chapel was envisioned as a non-denominational space integrating art, spirituality and social justice. Since then, it has become a cultural and spiritual landmark.
Inside the octagonal church, visitors will typically find 14 dark, brooding paintings by Rothko painted between 1964 and 1967. complement each other. The Rothko Chapel’s Houston site also features a reflecting pool, which features Barnett Newman’s Reflecting Pool broken obelisk (1963-69), a sculpture dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Roscoe Church team is currently evaluating how to handle fall programming, noting the possibility of hosting events at other venues around Houston. In response to the damage, leadership hired Whitten & Proctor Fine Art Conservation, a leading art conservation firm, to assess and repair the damaged art and structures.
In April, the Roscoe Chapel Board of Trustees broke ground on a $42 million expansion project that will add new construction, landscaping and accessibility features. Renovations are expected to be completed in 2026.
