Desert X
From March 8 to May 11, 2025, the Coachella Valley in Southern California is transformed into a dynamic outdoor art gallery as Desert X returns for its fifth edition. This biennial exhibition features site-specific installations by 11 international artists, each responding uniquely to the desert's rich natural and cultural landscape.
Curated by Artistic Director Neville Wakefield and Co-Curator Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas, the 2025 exhibition explores themes such as Indigenous futurism, design activism, and the impact of human activity on the land.
Featured Artists and Installations
This year's exhibition showcases the work of 11 artists:
Sanford Biggers (USA): Presents "Unsui (Mirror)" at the James O. Jesse Desert Highland Unity Center in Palm Springs, featuring towering, sequin-covered cloud forms that invite reflection on movement and transformation.
Jose Dávila (Mexico): "The Act of Being Together" in Desert Hot Springs consists of stacked 16-tonne marble boulders, prompting contemplation on permanence and change.
Agnes Denes (Hungary/USA): "The Living Pyramid" at Sunnylands Center & Gardens in Rancho Mirage is a monumental sculptural and environmental intervention integrating mathematical precision with organic transformation.
Cannupa Hanska Luger (USA): "G.H.O.S.T. Ride" in Desert Hot Springs features a retro van adorned with Indigenous motifs, exploring themes of mobility and cultural identity.
Raphael Hefti (Switzerland): "Five Things You Can't Wear on TV" in Palm Desert utilizes reflective materials to create a dynamic horizon line, engaging viewers with perception and immateriality.
Kimsooja (South Korea/France): "To Breathe – Coachella Valley" in Desert Hot Springs is an immersive installation inviting viewers to experience the desert's vastness and serenity.
Kapwani Kiwanga (Canada/France): "Plotting Rest" in Palm Springs offers a contemplative space, encouraging visitors to reflect on rest and rejuvenation within the desert landscape.
Sarah Meyohas (USA): "Truth Arrives in Slanted Beams" in Palm Desert is an immersive installation that merges analog and digital technologies to explore perception and light.
Ronald Rael (USA): "Adobe Oasis" in Palm Springs reimagines the potential of adobe through an innovative 3D-printing process, emphasizing sustainability and cultural heritage.
Alison Saar (USA): "Soul Service Station" in Desert Hot Springs offers spiritual replenishment through art, poetry, and communal engagement, inspired by the gas stations of the American West.
Muhannad Shono (Saudi Arabia): "What Remains" in Thousand Palms is an interactive installation exploring themes of memory and presence within the desert's expansive landscape.
Desert X installations are generally open from sunrise to sunset, though hours and access may vary. Visitors are encouraged to check specific details for each artwork on the Desert X website. To enhance your experience, consider downloading the Desert X app, which provides maps, guided tours, and additional information about the installations. https://desertx.org
All Photographs Courtesy Of Desert X