The Moody opened on February 24, 2017, a 50,000-square-foot building by Los Angeles architect Michael Maltzan, and every exhibition and most programs are free. It mounts three shows a year. Radiant Geometries: Vectors of Knowledge from the Indigenous Americas runs September 4 to December 19, 2026. The Moody also looks after more than 85 public artworks across Rice's 300-acre campus. The one to plan your evening around is James Turrell's Twilight Epiphany, built in 2012 beside the Shepherd School of Music. It is a grassy pyramid that seats 120 on two levels under a 72-foot square roof with a knife-thin edge and an open square cut to the sky. At sunrise and sunset, LED light washes the ceiling while the sky through the opening seems to change color on its own. It is Turrell's 73rd Skyspace and the first engineered for acoustics. Each sequence lasts about 40 minutes, and it runs rain or shine.
What to expect
- The Moody Lot next to the building takes credit cards only.
- The Skyspace is open to the sky and runs rain or shine, so dress for the weather.
- Benches fill both levels; the lower level is accessible, with two wheelchair spots.
- Phone photos are fine in the galleries; no flash, tripods or selfie sticks.
- The Moody has a cafe, a laptop bar with free Wi-Fi and a public patio.
What to do
- Catch the sunset light sequence in the Turrell Skyspace, which starts about 10 minutes before sunset
- See Radiant Geometries in the Moody galleries (through December 19, 2026)
- Walk the campus public art: the Moody looks after more than 85 works across Rice
- February 24, 2017Moody opened
- 2012, Turrell's 73rdSkyspace built
- 120 on two levelsSkyspace seats
- 72-foot square, knife-edgeRoof