UROS HOUSE

UROS HOUSE at the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum in Lafayette, LA

Location: University of Louisiana | Lafayette, LA, 2011
Media: Stainless steel, diffusion material and reflective material, LEDs, custom lighting sequence, and electrical hardware
Dimensions: 10 ft x 5 ft x 5 ft

Since childhood, Grimanesa Amorós has been drawn to the beauty of the ocean, from the tides and shifting colors to the bubbles and foam. Her connection to the sea began along the Peruvian coast, where she spent hours observing how light moved across the water. This early fascination continues to shape her artistic practice.

Off the coast of Puno, Peru, the Uros Islands float on Lake Titicaca. These islets are constructed entirely from totora reeds, which grow in the lake and are used by the Uros people to build their homes, boats, and watchtowers. Amorós honors this tradition in UROS HOUSE, a light sculpture that captures the ephemeral beauty of sea foam while preserving the architectural language and material essence of Uros island dwellings.

The work was exhibited at the Paul and Lulu Hilliard University Art Museum in Lafayette, Louisiana. The museum is considered Acadiana’s architectural landmark and is the largest art museum between Houston and New Orleans. The setting offered a meaningful space for connecting Peruvian cultural heritage to a broader dialogue on place, identity, and contemporary art.