Meet Desert X, the exhibition of Desert Biennial, a 501(c) charitable organization founded in 2015. The exhibition is meant to bring attention to the valley’s environment through the display of works by emerging artists. Themes include climate change, immigration, tourism, gambling, and Native American culture.
2017
The participating artists included Doug Aitken, Lita Albuquerque, Jeffrey Gibson, Sherin Guirguis, Glann Kaino, Richard Prince, Rob Pruitt, Julião Sarmento, Phillip K. Smith III, and Tavares Strachan.
Works included a camouflaged house covered in mirrors, an autonomous vehicle known as the “ShyBot” that is programmed to avoid people, as well as an underground bunker with a kitsch sculpture of John F. Kennedy. In February 2017 the robot’s creator, an Italian artist known as “Norma Jeane”, lost contact with ShyBot. All communication was lost, and some thought the art robot was “bot-napped”. In July 2018, an off-roader found ShyBot and through a QR code on the body was able to contact Desert X and facilitate her return.
2019
The participating artists included Iván Argote, Nancy Baker Cahill, Cecilia Bengolea, Pia Camil, John Gerrard, Julian Hoeber, Jenny Holzer, Iman Issa, Mary Kelly, Armando Lerma, Eric N. Mack, Cinthia Marcelle, Postcommodity, Cara Romero, Sterling Ruby, Kathleen Ryan, Gary Simmons, Superflex, Chris Taylor & Steve Badgett. Neville Wakefield acted as artistic director.
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
—
Susan Davis
Founder & President
Vicki Hood
Vice-President
Retired Partner, Kirkland & Ellis, LLP
Dr. Steven Nash
Vice-President
Former Executive Director, Palm Springs Art Museum
Elizabeth Sorensen
Secretary
Trustee, The Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands
Linda Usher
Treasurer
Entrepreneur; Former CEO of O2COOL
Diane Allen
Board of VIA Art Fund; Art Collector & Patron
Alyse Archer-Coité
Senior Design Research and Program Specialist, Apple
Steven Biller
Editor-in-Chief, Palm Springs Life
Beth Rudin DeWoody
Art Collector & Curator; President, Rudin Family Foundations
Jamie Kabler
Entrepreneur; Founder, Rancho Mirage Writers Festival
Zoe Lukov
Curator, Faena Art Center, Miami Beach & Buenos Aires
Roswitha Smale
Chair, Nominating Committee
Wildlife Conservationist, Philanthropist; President, The Christopher Smale Foundation
Kelly Wearstler
Interior and Lifestyle Designer; Author; Founder and Principal of Kelly Wearstler
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