Rothko Chapel / white paint

In May 2018, Houston’s Rothko Chapel, a nondenominational venue created for prayer and meditation, was vandalized by unknown parties.

White paint was spilled near the Chapel’s entrance and in the reflection pool surrounding the Barnett Newman sculpture, “The Broken Obelisk,” which is dedicated to Martin Luther King, Jr. Handbills were also strewn around the grounds and pool that read, “It’s okay to be white.”

The Chapel closed temporarily as staff cleaned up the site. The paint was cleaned without the pool having to be drained; neither “The Broken Obelisk” nor the building sustained permanent damage.