Rothko Chapel’s origins: a couple’s vision for interfaith space
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In the 1960s, John and Dominique de Menil, a couple from France, began a project that resulted in the Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas.
The de Menils, lay Catholics, wanted to create a sanctuary that would appeal to people of all faiths. They travelled to Europe, Africa, and India to share their vision with religious leaders and gain acceptance for the chapel.
The de Menils sought input from diverse spiritual communities, including meeting with the Dalai Lama in India who later visited the completed chapel in 1979 after receiving a US visa. They believed a modern sanctuary was needed, moving beyond traditional religious imagery. They chose Mark Rothko to design both the paintings and the octagonal space itself, valuing his ability to express universal human experiences through art.
Rothko meticulously planned every aspect of the chapel, from the natural lighting to the placement of the paintings, even building a full-scale mock-up in his studio because he feared flying. Suna Umari, the chapel’s retired historian and archivist, recounts how the space immediately resonated with groups like the Whirling Dervishes, who felt at home in its eight-sided form.
Today, the Rothko Chapel serves as a place for meditation and prayer for people of many faiths, transforming to accommodate the practices of Buddhists, Hindus, Zoroastrians, and Muslims.
