After a two-year hiatus, Coachella is back with more music, pop ups, and, of course, photo opps. Art installations have been a staple of the cultural event for years. Here’s what to expect when walking around the Empire Polo Fields this weekend.
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SPECTRA by NEWSUBSTANCE
A staple of the festival grounds since 2018, this immersive rainbow tower is the first resident art piece in Coachella history. The name “SPECTRA” represents the color spectrum that progresses upon each floor.
Alana Bracken
SPECTRA by NEWSUBSTANCE
Attendees can climb the spiral walkway to the top or take pictures below. And bonus: the tower is air conditioned.
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Buoyed by Kiki van Eijk
Reminiscent of three buoys floating in a sea of green, Buoyed by Netherlands-based artist Kiki van Eijk aims to act as a gathering place of acceptance and community behind the Coachella Main Stage.
Alana Bracken
Buoyed by Kiki van Eijk
A trio of white, teal, and baby blue, the four-story installation dons glowing wings, feathered tiling, and a whimsical windmill.
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Circular Dimensions (Microscope) by Christopher Cichocki
A massive structure at the heart of the festival, Circular Dimensions is a multimedia art experience that explores the exploration of water in the desert.
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Circular Dimensions (Microscope) by Christopher Cichocki
Within the pavilion, a screen displays in real time what Cichocki dubs “video paintings” of Salton Sea water, salt, barnacle, and algae samples viewed under a microscope.
Alana Bracken
Playground by Architensions
As functional as it is fantastic, Playground stays true to its name as a playful meeting area visible from far corners of the Coachella festival grounds.
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Playground by Architensions
The colorful geometric structure features four towers connected by skybridges, complete with ample seating areas for groups looks for respite from the desert sun.
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La Guardiana by LosDos
As the guardian of immigrants worldwide, La Guardiana dons “an enredo (skirt),a rebozo (shawl)to carry her child, a mask to conceal her identity, and horns to represent strength.”
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La Guardiana by LosDos
Her enredo features people making the perilous journey to the border wall by foot, train, and boat.
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Cocoon (BKF + H300) by Martin Huberman
Constructed using 300 iterations of the BKF, or “butterfly” chair, Cocoon adapts the iconic mid-century piece back to its chrysalis stage.
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Cocoon (BKF + H300) by Martin Huberman
The nine-story structure floats just beside the Gobi tent and features colorful projections once the sun goes down.
Mutts displays three dogs donning foliage “fur.” Outlined in the primary colors, they assume three familiar positions: downward dog, sit, and stay.
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Mutts by Oana Stănescu
Stănescu invites the viewer to interact with the three sculpture, whether by touching the nose of the blue pup or resting on the paws of the other two.
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Le Grande Wheel
What would Coachella be without the iconic Ferris wheel? This massive structure at the entrance of the festival is the third largest of its kind in the world, bested only by the London Eye and Le Grande Rue de Paris.
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Le Grande Wheel
Whether you’re looking for views from 150-feet up or simply need a landmark to meet up with friends, Le Grande Wheel is a mainstay of any Coachella experience.