Desert X

The Coachella Valley’s dunes and brushland became the West Coast’s most talked-​about pop-up art space in February with the opening of Desert X, a composite art installation spanning nearly 45 miles of California desert. The arid landscapes weren’t just a backdrop—they were both a muse and a context into which each piece was integrated, from Richard Prince’s derelict shack covered in oversize printed Twitter posts to Phillip K. Smith’s mirrored batons reflecting the light and landscapes around them. The project, which ran for 9 weeks and concluded on April 30, was a presentation of Desert Biennial, a nonprofit organization that counts among its members art heavyweights like Ed Ruscha. The first installment of what is anticipated to be a recurring event (a February 2019 show is already scheduled) reminded us that art can thrive outside the confines of a gallery.