The biennial Desert X has returned to California’s Coachella Valley for its 2025 edition. The artists featured this year offer fresh perspectives on a world increasingly shaped by human presence. For many, this manifests as an exploration of time within spaces where ancestral wisdom converges—and sometimes clashes—with contemporary visions of our shared future. As the most tangible marker of human transformation, architecture serves as the foundation for numerous projects, ranging from pavilion-like structures to more understated forms.

In Soul Service Station, Alison Saar continues her alchemical exploration of salvage as a material practice and a metaphor for transformation. Saar reimagines the roadside gas stations that have long dotted the American West, including the Coachella Valley. Yet, rather than offering fuel for vehicles, her station nourishes the soul. Blending community-crafted elements with furnishings made from salvaged materials, the installation becomes a sanctuary for travelers—a space to pause, reflect, and gather strength, carrying forward the histories, voices, and aspirations that shape our collective journey.

Desert X 2025 is on display through May 11. More information can be found here: https://desertx.org/

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