Desert X announces 2021 return to Coachella Valley
Desert X will return to the Coachella Valley in 2021 with its desert art exhibitions opening to the public on February 6 and running through April 11.
The art organization was conceived in 2017 to produce recurring international contemporary art exhibitions.
It's Board of Directors also announced Tuesday the appointment of César García-Alvarezas as co-curator of Desert X in the Coachella Valley. He joins returning Artistic Director Neville Wakefield.
Desert X says the 2021 display will mark the third edition of its international art exhibition that in a statement said, "will activate California's desert landscape through site-responsive installations by renowned international contemporary artists."
“I applaud our Board’s appointment of César as co-curator of Desert X 2021. He will be a great addition to the team and together with Neville they will create a fresh approach to the exhibition”, commented Desert X Executive Director Jenny Gil. “On recent trips to the Coachella Valley, César has already met with a number of community leaders and has developed an original point of view on what the exhibition’s curatorial remit could be, including an important extension of our public and educational programs.”
García-Alvarez is the founder and current executive and artistic director of The Mistake Room (TMR), an international non-profit contemporary art space in LA. He was born in Mexico and is now based in LA.
Desert X Artistic Director, Neville Wakefield said, “I am excited to welcome César as co-curator, and confident that the curatorial acumen that he brings along with a deep involvement and understanding at both local and international levels will be instrumental in shaping and developing new voices and outlooks for 2021.”
García-Alvarez has also worked as Associate Director and Senior Curator of LAXART from 2007-2012. He was also one of the curators of Made in L.A. 2012. It was the first edition of the Hammer Museum’s LA Biennial, and from 2012-2013 served as the US Commissioner for the 13th International Cairo Biennial in Egypt.
García-Alvarez said, “I look forward to spending time in the region working closely with artists, local residents, and other stakeholders in order to put together an exhibition that considers the desert not just as an ecology but also as a home, a border, and an idea."
Desert X was founded to connect desert communities and cultures through contemporary art.
The exhibition is free and open to all. It has garnered international critical and popular acclaim for site-specific artworks and installations by some of today’s most recognized international contemporary artists.
Desert X is currently exhibiting large-scale art installations in the ancient Al Ula desert valley in Saudi Arabia from January 7 through March 7. It is also free to the public.
In 2019, it attracted a diverse and multi-generational audience to the Coachella Valley. Desert X says local, national and international visitors made site visits totaling more than 400,000. Desert X in a statement said it continues to engage millions across social and digital media channels and has received numerous awards for its extensive education and community programs and partnerships.
