Coachella 2019 has come and gone, leaving literal dust in its wake. This was the 20th year of Coachella festival, and it shared a particularly strong art program with its visitors. Large art installations are an integral element of the festival, providing shade, joy, and a place to rest during a long day in the desert sun chasing beats. Here are the four most noteworthy art projects from 2019.

 

  • Francis Kéré’s Sarbalé Ke. Photo by The Art Minion.

  • Francis Kéré’s Sarbalé Ke. Photo by The Art Minion.

  • Francis Kéré’s Sarbalé Ke. Photo by The Art Minion.

Francis Kéré’s Sarbalé Ke

Berlin-based African artist Francis Kéré’s architectural installation Sarbalé Ke translates to “house of celebration,” and mimics the form of the baobab trees that are found in his native West African village of Gando, Burkina Faso. These forms, like the tree, can be seen from a great distance and naturally draw community members to gather around and beneath it to discuss and celebrate. Boldly colored geometric patterns created a welcoming appeal that was embraced by the festival goers who lounged and relaxed near the structures, some soaring up to 60 feet above the ground.

 

NEWSUBSTANCE’s Spectra 2019. Photo by The Art Minion.

NEWSUBSTANCE’s Spectra 2019

This tower of technicolor is a beacon of light for festival goers at Coachella, back for the second year after it went viral in 2018. It mimics the vibrant colors of sunset and and sunrise in the desert, while also providing filters through which to appreciate the landscape around it. All weekend long, this multi-level structure had a long line of people waiting to ascend and descend its ramps for 360 degree views of the festival and the surrounding desert.

 

  • Sofia Enriquez’s Mismo. Photo by The Art Minion.

  • Sofia Enriquez’s Mismo. Photo by The Art Minion.

  • Sofia Enriquez’s Mismo. Photo by The Art Minion.

Sofia Enriquez’s Mismo

Enriquez’s massive, brightly colored paisley sculptures represent equality. A pattern laden with southwestern energy, constructed in wood and reaching 14 feet into the sky, paisley can be found on a labor worker’s bandana or a business man’s tie – a small victory of common ground for communities that drift further and further apart. Her sculptures functioned as a call to Coachella guests to greet one another and converse in their midst, leaving differences outside the perimeter of the festival.

 

  • Poetic Kinetic’s Overview Effect. Photo by The Art Minion.

Poetic Kinetic’s Overview Effect

5 years ago, an astronaut roamed the Coachella grounds, and he was a viral hit. He’s been traveling the cosmos ever since, and just touched back down on the polo fields to share his adventures. Little clues could be found all over him that told the story of where he’d been, while festival goers were invited to take selfies with a specific hashtag for the chance to be shared as the face of the astronaut for a few minutes. This interactive artwork brought tons of smiles to Coachella – and, at the end of the day, that’s the whole point, isn’t it?