The Lightning Field
 | |
| Artist | Walter De Maria |
|---|---|
| Year | 1977 |
| Medium | Land art; 400 stainless-steel poles |
| Dimensions | 1 mile by 1 kilometer |
| Location | Near Quemado, New Mexico |
The Lightning Field is a 1977 work of land art by the American sculptor Walter De Maria, set in a remote area of high desert in western New Mexico. It consists of 400 polished stainless-steel poles arranged in a grid measuring one mile by one kilometer. The Dia Art Foundation commissioned the work and maintains it.[1]
Description
The poles are two inches in diameter and average 20 feet 7½ inches in height. They are spaced 220 feet apart, and their solid, pointed tips line up to form a horizontal plane.[1] De Maria said of the site: "The land is not the setting for the work but a part of the work."[2]
Visiting
Dia opens the work from May through October for overnight visits, by reservation only.[1] Visitors meet at Dia's office in Quemado, where a driver takes them to a cabin at the site; the exact location is not given out in advance. No more than six people stay at a time, they remain until late the next morning, and photography is not allowed.[2]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Walter De Maria, The Lightning Field". Dia Art Foundation. Retrieved 2026-10-20.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Caitlin Schneider (2016-05-19). "Spend the Night in a Massive 'Lightning Field' in the New Mexico Desert". Mental Floss. Retrieved 2026-10-20.