The Turrell Skyspace San Francisco

A hidden meditation

Byron from San Francisco

""The Turrell Skyspace" in San Francisco is a hidden oculus buried underground that provides a moment of either meditation or social overload..."

Tucked in the back of the DeYoung Museum's garden is a hidden oculus buried underground that provides a moment of either meditation or social overload. I am sure 99% of people miss that the entrance to the Turrell Skyspace is behind a hedge in the back right corner of the De Young's garden.

Down a long ramp, you enter a curved high walled walk that finally opens to a small domed room with an oculus open to the sky. The thing about the skyspace that makes it special is that the experience changes every time I enter. The light of the day and season changes the look and color of the inside. If it is raining it's wonderful to see the drops fall through the circle in the ceiling. But the biggest impact is who happens to be there with you.

If you are alone, it is a beautiful meditation. If you are visiting and happy children are there it becomes an echo chamber of excitement and joy. I have been there when groups were chanting and when people couldn't figure out what they were supposed to do. Every visit is a performance in the round and unique.

Art & culture

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San Francisco Spotter Byron

About me The quote “It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious” by Oscar Wilde works for me. I grew up on the central coast and have always valued the California virtues of connecting with people and their stories - there is a reason Hollywood and Silicon Valley started here. Everyone has a story, but so few tell it well. For the last 30 years, I have lived in SF with my charming husband and a series of cats who all have a story to tell. For better or worse, my story is that history is never boring, if you ask enoug...

About this spot

50 Hagiwara Tea Garden Dr

US$

free

Website

4157503600

Oct 31, 2025

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