Desert X 2023: Locations and Art Installations in Palm Springs
Every other year, Desert X pops up art installations throughout Coachella Valley, which are completely different from each other year after year.
The locations of the installations aren’t released until opening day and can be found on the Desert X app. Descriptions of each art installation and the artists who created them can also be found on the app and on Desert X’s website.
Desert X is open March 4-May 7, 2023.
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What is Desert X?
Desert X began in 2017 and is a series of contemporary art installations spread throughout Coachella Valley. Although they were founded in California, they held the first international exhibition in Saudi Arabia in 2020, which hosted works from local artists, as well as European and American artists.
Desert X takes place in odd years in the United States (2017, 2021, 2023, etc.). The works range from murals and films to giant structures that you can walk through and around.
How much is Desert X?
It’s completely free to visit the installations, although there may be a few that require advanced registration. There is only one piece this year that requires registration in advance, but it is still free.
Where is Desert X?
Desert X takes place across Coachella Valley. This is the land of the Cahuilla People, who lived and cared for this land long before Europeans arrived and settled here.
There are 10 installations this year spread out between Desert Hot Springs and Palm Desert, plus one performative piece, which took place on the opening day, and one film.
You can find all the locations on their app and listed below!
Desert X 2023 Locations and Art Installations
The fun part about Desert X is how spread out all the installations are! It’s like a scavenger hunt throughout the desert. I’ve listed the coordinates for each location below, but you can also find them in the Desert X app.
I recommend adding each location to a Google Maps list and downloading your maps so they’re easily accessible as you drive around.
You can even do what I did and map out a full route! I mapped it out on my computer and then had Google text it to my phone — super helpful!
I’ve ordered this from my favorites to least favorites (although they were all pretty cool!). Your favorites may be the opposite of my list, and that’s okay!
Liquid a Place
I was most looking forward to this one and it absolutely lived up to my expectations! It was by far my favorite one. The massive black structure/object in the desert terrain looked striking.
What I didn’t realize until we got there is that you can actually walk to the top of the structure! There are stairs on either side of it that take you to the very top. It was incredible!
Artist: Torkwase Dyson
Location: 33.708547, -116.399372
Homme Adams Park
Sleeping Figure
Shipping containers are thoughtfully stacked to create Matt Johnson’s Sleeping Figure. With a gorgeous backdrop of the mountains, and the grand size of the “figure,” this piece is imposing.
Parking is clearly marked right off the freeway and you’ll walk about half a mile (one mile total) to reach the installation.
This was my second-favorite piece because of a few reasons: it’s enormous size, the creativity of using shipping containers, the smiley face, and the location/background.
Artist: Matt Johnson
Location: 33.922876, -116.689379
I-10 Exit 110 to Railroad Ave
Amar a Dios en Tierra de Indios, Es Oficio Maternal
The Sunnylands Center & Gardens is where you’ll find this piece — a car that has seemingly come to a stop with two giant, fuzzy claws hanging out of the trunk. The car is covered in what seems to be some plants made of fabric and other artificial materials.
This piece is only viewable during Sunnylands Center & Gardens opening hours, which can make it a bit more difficult to see. Check their hours before you go!
Sunnylands itself is a gorgeous place to visit with beautifully manicured lawns and gardens.
Artist: Paloma Contreras Lomas
Location: 33.780500, -116.406167
Sunnylands Center & Gardens
37977 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage
Originals
Lined up along the Gene Autry Trail (between Via Escuela and the I-10) are billboards with photographs by Tyre Nichols. If you recognize the name, it’s because Tyre Nichols lost his life to police brutality in January 2023.
I’m glad Desert X included him in this year’s installations and is bringing continued attention to systemic racism and police violence against Black Americans in America.
In his own words, “My vision is to bring my viewers deep into what I am seeing through my eye and out through my lens.”
Artist: Tyre Nichols
Location: 33.852444, -116.506083
N. Gene Autry Trail, Between Via Escuela and the I-10
Hylozoic/Desires
Just off the side of a long, desolate road stands a large pole with megaphones pointing out all directions. The bottom of the pole is encrusted with what looks like salt. As I walked around taking photos, a fellow photographer pointed out the “Press” button near the base and told me it played sound!
I walked up and pressed the button, which promptly began a 17-minute poem. The sound quality was incredible, despite the loud, whipping winds.
It was too cold/windy for us to stay for the whole thing, but if you catch it on a nice day, plan to stay for a while!
Artists: Namak Nazar
Location: 33.965665, -116.583173
Worsley Road between Pierson and Mission Lakes Boulevards, Desert Hot Springs
Immersion
The photos I saw of this before visiting were taken from a drone. When you visit the piece itself, there isn’t actually a spot to view it from above. Walk through it and experience it up close to get the best view!
You can download a digital deck of cards (linked on the Desert X app and QR code at the site) to play Immersion while you’re here.
Artist: Gerald Clarke
Location: 33.868051, -116.553720
James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center
480 W. Tramview Road, Palm Springs
Searching for the Sky (While Maintaining Equilibrium)
It’s a bit of a walk from the parking area to get to these solar panel-like objects. These flat, reflective surfaces sit atop a mechanical bull base. They’re meant to move, but they were not working when we visited.
From far away, they’re difficult to see since they reflect their surroundings and seem to blend in. But as you walk around them to see a backdrop of snowy mountains, the sky begins to reflect on them and they stand out much more.
Artist: Mario García Torres
Location: 33.963394, -116.485582
Pierson Boulevard between Foxdale Drive and Miracle Hill Road, Desert Hot Springs
No.1225 Chainlink
Just off the road in Palm Desert, you can see this yellow structure set against the mountains in the desert. It’s a short walk up to Chainlink, and you can actually walk through the structure in circles until you reach the middle.
I liked the color choice and the overall shape of it photographed really nicely! While it’s nothing too spectacular due to the simple materials, I did like it overall.
Artist: Rana Begum
Location: 33.775917, -116.368694
Pioneer
Out in the seemingly middle of nowhere, there’s a bronze statue of a horse with a woman figure on top of it. It represents how Native, Indigenous, and African women were exploited by America, and is a monument to the resilience of the women who have descended from them.
It’s a bit of a walk to get to it, and I personally didn’t love the art itself, but I do appreciate what it represents.
Artist: Tschabalala Self
Location: 33.940884, -116.483980
San Gorgonio Street and Bubbling Wells Road, Desert Hot Springs
In The Smallest Sea with the Largest Heart
This installation requires advanced reservation! It’s only open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights with limited tickets available (they’re free!). We didn’t get a chance to see this one during our trip.
I’ve put this one low on the list only because it’s inconvenient to visit with limited reservations and dates to view it.
Artists: Lauren Bon and Metabolic Studios
Location: 33.849977, -116.549802
2249 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
Khudi Bari (Bengali for ‘Tiny House’)
Desert X commissioned a film this year about Marian Tabassum’s project. Her project is the creation of a Khudi Bari. The mobile tiny home she created can be easily assembled and disassembled, which can be crucial in desert areas prone to flash flooding.
I would have loved to see one of these tiny houses as an installation you could visit in person! You can view the film on desertx.org.
Artist: Marina Tabassum
Location: N/A
Chimera
On opening day, this was a performative art piece in which a man stood with a handful of mylar balloons and passed them out. We did not see this piece as it only took place one day.
While each balloon did have a weight to keep it from being released, I can’t help but be upset at the use of material so detrimental to the environment.
Artist: Héctor Zamora
Location: N/A
Know Before You Go
Respect the desert: This is native land and should be respected at all times. Stay on designated paths and trails, follow signs for parking, and don’t take or leave anything.
Plan ahead: These locations are spread out across the valley and will require lots of driving. Load up on gas, snacks, and water before you head out. I also recommend mapping out the locations to see which ones are near you and near each other to avoid driving back and forth.
Research: Read through the descriptions of each installation before you visit them so you know and understand the purpose and meaning of each artwork. This way you can truly appreciate it in its entirety.
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