Desert X 2025 Recap: Art Highlights, Map & Photos

Explore the beautiful Palm Springs and Coachella Valley region. If you want a unique and fun experience, check out the outdoor art exhibitions at Desert X. You’ll find stunning landscapes and thought-provoking art scattered across the desert. From giant sculptures to immersive installations, Desert X will captivate your senses. It’s a special place where art and nature meet. Don’t miss your chance to see the beauty hidden in every corner of this creative oasis!

What is the Desert X Outdoor Art Exhibition?

Desert X 2025 brought large-scale outdoor art installations back to the Coachella Valley this spring, and I had the chance to explore many of them. This year’s exhibition featured site-specific works by contemporary artists, touching on themes like Indigenous futurism, design activism, and our impact on the land.

Desert X happens every other year. Previous editions, like Desert X 2023, included a mix of large sculptures, immersive experiences, and thought-provoking pieces. Some older works, like those from 2021, can still be found out in the desert.

Their website includes an interactive map showing where each installation was located. Below, I’ve added GPS coordinates for the 2023 pieces I visited. I’ll update this post with 2025 locations as soon as I finish organizing them.

A Tour Through Some of the Pieces at the Desert X 2023 Exhibition

I spent a few hours exploring the 2023 exhibitions. Below, you’ll find photos and details about the pieces I saw. During my visit, I experienced seven installations, each offering a unique view of the desert landscape.

Although the 2023 show has ended, some artworks from earlier years may still be on display. Scroll down to revisit these incredible pieces and enjoy a little trip back to Desert X.

Sleeping Figure by Matt Johnson

Location: I-10 Exit 110 Haugen-Lehmann Way to Railroad Ave
GPS Coordinates: 33.922876, -116.689379

Sleeping Figure by Matt Johnson is an outdoor art piece made from shipping containers. It sits against the stunning backdrop of the San Jacinto mountain range. Right now, it’s perfect for photos with blooming desert plants and snowy peaks in the distance.

To visit, take exit 110 off Interstate 10. Park in the lot next to the eastbound on-ramp. From there, follow the signs east and walk about five minutes. The trail is exposed with no shade, but once you get close to the installation, you can stand underneath for some relief.

I went on a weekday when it was quiet. But when I drove by the following Sunday, the parking lot was packed!

Namak Nazak by Hylozoic/Desires

Location: Worsley Road between Pierson and Mission Lakes Boulevards, Desert Hot Springs
GPS Coordinates: 33.965665, -116.583173

Namak Nazak by Hylozoic/Desires is an audio-visual installation you can easily visit on your way to Joshua Tree National Park. When I was there, the desert wildflowers were blooming, and both the San Bernardino and San Jacinto Mountains were dusted with snow, adding to the stunning views.

The exhibit is just a few steps from the road, with easy parking along Worsley Road. Keep in mind, there’s no shade here, so if it’s windy or sunny, you’ll be fully exposed.

Searching for the Sky (While Maintaining Equilibrium) by Mario García Torres

Location: Pierson Boulevard between Foxdale Drive and Miracle Hill Road, Desert Hot Springs
GPS Coordinates: 33.963394, -116.485582

Mario García Torres’ “Searching for the Sky (While Maintaining Equilibrium)” is an art exhibit reached by a short hike up a hill. From the parking lot, it’s a quick walk along the trail. The exhibit is fully open to the sun and wind, so be ready for the elements. The sculptures are inspired by a mechanical bull. They move with the grace of ballet dancers.

Pioneer by Tschabalala Self

Location: San Gorgonio Street and Bubbling Wells Road, Desert Hot Springs
GPS Coordinates: 33.940884, -116.483980

Pioneer by Tschabalala Self is a very interesting sculpture that will have you staring at it for some time. The parking lot is accessible by driving down a dirt road at the intersection of San Gorgonio Street and Bubbling Wells Road. Once parked, head northwest for a short hike. Shade is available near the sculpture.

Immersion by Gerald Clarke

Location: James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center. 480 W. Tramview Road, Palm Springs
GPS Coordinates: 33.868051, -116.553720

Immersion by Gerald Clarke is a very short walking distance away from the Unity Center’s parking lot. On the day I went, there was a fun 45mph wind and dust storm, which was making it difficult to stand up! This is the sculpture of a gameboard with entry points to the maze: Kichamka, Gawika, Tamika, and Temamka. Each is designed to immerse you in the natural and cultural history of Native Americans in the Coachella Valley.

Liquid A Place by Torkwase Dyson

Location: Homme Adams Park. 72500 Thrush Road, Palm Desert
GPS Coordinates: 33.708547, -116.399372

Liquid A Place by Torkwase Dyson is easy to find. There’s plenty of free parking nearby. The walk to the installation is short and flat. This sculpture reminds you that your body is mostly water. It connects to the water around us, in the desert, oceans, and rivers.

You can also explore nearby hiking trails. From the top, you’ll see great views of a green Palm Desert.

No. 1225 Chainlink by Rana Begum

Location: 74184 Portola Road, Palm Desert
GPS Coordinates: 33.775917, -116.368694

No. 1225 Chainlink by Rana Begum was one of my favorites, especially at sunset. Despite the harsh associations with chain links, this piece feels light and free. It constantly shifts and moves with the sun and the people walking through it, reminding us that everything in life is always in motion.

The shadows and views are stunning any time of day, but sunrise and sunset are the most popular moments to visit. Highly recommended!

Desert X 2025

Desert X returned to the Coachella Valley from March 8 to May 11, 2025. Curated by Neville Wakefield and Kaitlin Garcia-Maestas, this year’s show explored themes like Indigenous futurism, design activism, and colonial power structures. It also looked at humanity’s lasting impact on the land and the role of new technologies.

I recently visited most of the 2025 exhibitions. Below, I’ve listed them in the order I saw them, a perfect little day trip.

The act of being together by Jose Dávila

GPS Coordinates: 33.948739, -116.592615
Location: Worsley Road between Pierson Boulevard and Painted Hills Road, Desert Hot Springs

Visiting The act of being together is easy, and it was especially busy when I went on a Sunday morning! Despite strong winds, many others and I still enjoyed the art and stunning desert views.

José Dávila’s Desert X 2025 installation is a powerful statement on material, gravity, and time. He uses unaltered marble blocks from a quarry across the U.S.–Mexico border, creating both a physical and symbolic bridge between places. As these blocks move across real and metaphorical borders, they make us rethink visibility, presence, and history.

Walking among these massive stones, scattered as if by unseen forces, feels like standing between past and future, witnessing something both ancient and still forming.

Bonus: There’s plenty of parking along the quiet road, making it easy to stop and take it all in!

Soul Service Station by Alison Saar

GPS Coordinates: 33.962806, -116.542806
Location: Pierson Boulevard between North Indian Canyon Drive and Desert Terrace Way, Desert Hot Springs

Alison Saar’s Soul Service Station is a mesmerizing audio-visual experience I highly recommend. Unlike some of the busier installations, this one felt peaceful when I arrived. It invited me to fully immerse myself in its unique mix of sculpture, sound, and spiritual reflection.

Saar’s reimagined gas station offers more than just visuals, it feels like a sanctuary, a place to pause and recharge. The handcrafted assemblages, community-made foil medallions, and the life-size guardian figure all add to its deep impact.

Adding to the experience, the repurposed gas pump plays poetry by Harryette Mullen, weaving words into the atmosphere. Soul Service Station is a must-visit for anyone seeking both art and introspection.

Parking is easy along the road, making this tranquil retreat accessible.

To Breathe – Coachella Valley by Kimsooja

GPS Coordinates: 33.962040, -116.488532

To Breathe – Coachella Valley by Kimsooja was one of my favorite installations this year. The glass structure is stunning on its own. During the day, sunlight creates beautiful prism effects through sunglasses, sequin clothing, and the glass itself.

For the best experience, I recommend visiting at sunrise or sunset. That’s when the light shifts, and the installation truly comes alive. The special optical film wrapped around the structure turns it into a moving spectrum of color and light. It feels both fleeting and deeply powerful.

There’s a parking lot nearby, and it’s a short hike to reach the piece. The walk becomes part of the experience. The installation’s connection to life’s cycles and cultural themes adds layers to its beauty. It’s a moment in the desert you won’t forget.

What Remains by Muhannad Shono

GPS Coordinates: 33.772879, -116.319639
Location: Avenue 38, Thousand Palms

Muhannad Shono’s What Remains was an unforgettable experience, especially on the super windy day I visited. The wind and swirling sand patterns on the desert floor made the installation feel even more alive, highlighting its ever-changing, fluid nature.

Strips of fabric, infused with native sand, moved with the wind’s direction. This created a sense of motion that echoed both nature’s forces and the shifting nature of identity. As the wind tangled the fabric into chaotic bundles, it felt like the artwork and environment were working together. The desert itself became part of the piece.

Parking is available alongside the road, and the site was quiet when I visited, probably because it’s a bit off the beaten path compared to other installations.

Shono’s work beautifully explores themes of transformation and displacement. The blend of art and nature created an experience that felt both fleeting and deeply meaningful.

Truth Arrives in Slanted Beams by Sarah Meyohas

GPS Coordinates: 33.776538, -116.370608
Location: 74184 Portola Road, Palm Desert

Sarah Meyohas’ immersive installation was a hit with kids of all ages and great for photos. Parking is available along the busy road, so it’s easy to access even with crowds.

Meyohas blends analog and digital tech to highlight systems shaping today’s society. This installation showcases “caustics,” which are light patterns formed when light bends or reflects off curved surfaces.

The mirrored panels and ribbon-like structure create a playful but thought-provoking experience. Visitors can move the mirrors to change the light projections and discover optical illusions.

The poetic phrase “truth arrives in slanted beams” appears as visitors adjust the mirrors, making for an engaging and magical moment in the desert. The work draws inspiration from ancient timekeeping and 20th-century land art, making it a striking part of Desert X this year.

The Living Pyramid by Agnes Denes

GPS Coordinates: 33.780500, -116.406167
Location: Sunnylands Center & Gardens, Rancho Mirage, California, USA

Agnes Denes’ The Living Pyramid is a striking fusion of monumental sculpture and environmental intervention, embodying both the mathematical precision of pyramids and the organic imperfection of nature. Planted with native vegetation, the piece evolves, mirroring the cycles of life and change within the desert landscape.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to see this one in person. There were so many cars trying to get into the location that traffic became stagnant, and after some time, I gave up.

Five things you can’t wear on TV by Raphael Hefti

GPS Coordinates: 33.708547, -116.399372
Location: Homme Adams Park, Palm Desert, California, USA

Five Things You Can’t Wear on TV by Raphael Hefti was an extraordinary audio-visual experience, especially on the windy day I visited. Parking was easy to find nearby.

As the wind picked up, the taut black polymer fiber began to vibrate. The sound reminded me of a gently strummed guitar string. This oscillation created a visual harmony that added a musical layer to the vast desert.

The effect was almost disorienting, blurring the lines between perception and scale as the vibrating line moved against the horizon. Wind, light, and the landscape came together to amplify this kinetic dance, turning the piece into a mesmerizing, thought-provoking environmental experience.

Plotting Rest by Kawani Kiwanga

GPS Coordinates: 33.857694, -116.559111
Location: North of Palm Springs Visitor Center at Tramway Road, Palm Springs

It was extremely windy when I visited Plotting Rest by Kawani Kiwanga, which made the installation feel even more alive and free. There’s a small off-street parking lot nearby, so it’s a convenient stop despite the weather.

The lattice roof, inspired by the quilting pattern called “flying geese,” lets the wind pass through. It casts ever-changing shadows on the ground, adding to the dynamic atmosphere.

Rooted in the history of the Underground Railroad, the structure symbolizes both shelter and the lack of safety. It reflects the tension between permanence and impermanence.

Plotting Rest is a powerful reminder of the contested stories around freedom and migration. It’s a thought-provoking piece to experience in the desert.

Unsui (Mirror) by Sanford Biggers

GPS Coordinates: 33.867286, -116.552478
Location: James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, 480 W. Tramview Road, Palm Springs

Unsui (Mirror) by Sanford Biggers is a stunning installation featuring two towering sequin sculptures shimmering in the desert light. The wind brought the piece to life, as the sequins danced in the breeze.

Parking is easy with off-street spots nearby, making it simple to visit and soak in the majestic beauty.

Inspired by clouds and Biggers’ study of Buddhism, the sculptures stand over 30 feet tall. They symbolize freedom, movement, and the connection between memory and identity.

Located at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, the installation carries a message of hope and resilience, reflecting the community’s ongoing efforts toward reparations.

Final Thoughts on Desert X

Desert X is a remarkable blend of art and landscape, turning the Coachella Valley into an open-air gallery that sparks curiosity, reflection, and adventure. Each edition offers fresh perspectives on themes like identity, history, and our connection to nature, making every visit feel unique.

From large sculptures that reshape the desert skyline to smaller, intimate installations that invite quiet contemplation, Desert X leaves a lasting impression.

Looking back at past shows, it’s fascinating how artists have used this rugged, beautiful terrain to create thought-provoking works that change with time, weather, and perspective.

If you haven’t been yet, I highly recommend planning a trip to Desert X 2025. It’s a powerful reminder of how art can challenge, connect, and transform.

Post originally published on April 13, 2023, and last updated on September 29, 2025.