2023 Desert X lineup announced; event will kick off March 4 with release of map

The exhibition, held every two years since 2017, is best known for massive sculptures scattered throughout the valley, including Palm Springs.
“Wishing Well,” by artist Serge Attukwei Clottey, was installed outside the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center as part of Desert X.

Desert X on Monday announced the 11 artists based in Europe, North America, and South Asia who will participate in the fourth edition of the outdoor art exhibition in the Coachella Valley, planned for March 4 to May 7.

Looking back: The event, held every two years since 2017, is best known for its massive sculptures scattered throughout the valley, including here in Palm Springs, that offer an appealing background for many social media photo shoots. 

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  • Organizers say the exhibition is more than just sculptures, however, and they’ve set out to prove it in 2023.

Driving the news: This year, artists will create paintings, writings, architecture, designs, films, music, performances, choreography, environmental activism, and educational experiences in addition to the hallmark sculptures.

  • The artworks will explore themes of place, culture, and ecology, and offer viewers “opportunities for joy and hope.”

What we know: The event website offers some clues about the art we can expect to see, including a “shimmering pyramidal haze of color floating above the desert floor” and a herd of mechanical bulls made of a reflective surface. 

What to watch for: Every year, Desert X releases a map so art lovers can go on a scavenger hunt in and around the valley to find the art. The map will be released on March 4.

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