Marfa

Jan 31st – Feb 1st, 2025

Marfa, in Romanian (spelled “marfă”) means “goods” or in Romanian slang “it’s cool/ este marfă” 🙂

Well, Marfa was “marfă” 🙂 It is an original place with its own artsy vibe. We planned our itinerary based on recommendations from people we know or we met and try to stop by original places they suggested. Marfa is a good example of that. It was on our way to New Mexico after Big Bend National Park and it’s known for its artistic side.

It’s a small city of fewer than 2,000 residents but it became an unexpected hub for artists largely due to the influence of minimalist artist Donald Judd. In the 1970s, Judd moved to Marfa from New York and transformed former military buildings into large-scale art installations. His presence attracted a wave of artists, curators, and creatives, turning Marfa into a cultural destination. Today, a significant portion of its population (around 10%) is involved in the arts, far surpassing the national average for small towns.

We visited the Chinati Foundation, a museum dedicated to permanent, site-specific installations by Judd and other contemporary artists.