The countdown to Desert X 2025 has officially begun with the unveiling of The Living Pyramid at Sunnylands Center & Gardens in Rancho Mirage. This monumental step pyramid, planted with rows of vegetation native to the Coachella Valley, is the first in a series of outdoor art commissions that will comprise the fifth edition of the acclaimed art biennial, running from March 8 to May 11, 2025. For those eager to experience this groundbreaking work, The Living Pyramid is already open to the public during Sunnylands’ operating hours, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. Parking and admission are free.
A Visionary Artist
The creation of The Living Pyramid comes from the mind of Agnes Denes, a legendary pioneer of conceptual and environmental art. Born in Budapest in 1931 and residing in New York since the 1950s, Denes is celebrated for her profound explorations of humanity’s relationship with nature, architecture, and knowledge.
Denes has a storied career that spans over six decades, with works that challenge perceptions and encourage environmental consciousness. Originally commissioned in 2015 by Socrates Sculpture Park in New York City, The Living Pyramid has traveled the globe, appearing at venues such as documenta 14 in Kassel, Germany (2017), the Sakip Sabanci Museum in Istanbul (2022), and the Hayward Gallery in London (2023). In 2025, it will also make an appearance at MUDAM (Museum of Modern Art) in Luxembourg.
Denes’s vision for The Living Pyramid includes adapting it to its surroundings by incorporating indigenous plants unique to each location. At Sunnylands, the desert-native vegetation will evolve with the seasons, undergoing a transformation that mirrors the cycles of life—plants will bloom, go to seed, and ultimately die, embodying the impermanence and regeneration inherent in nature.
A Living Symbol
“The Living Pyramid is the most iconic and recurring expression of the pioneer of environmental art Agnes Denes’ commitment to the creation of works that speak in equal parts to the ancient structures of architecture and knowledge that shape our worldview, and the endless cycles of life and death that are the transformative powers of nature,” said Neville Wakefield, artistic director of Desert X, in a statement.
Denes herself describes the work as both a physical and philosophical structure. “This new work of The Living Pyramid is planted material, yet a new meaning,” Denes said. “Transformed into blossoms, the pyramid renews itself as evolution does to our species. It is not just planting, but planting the paradox, a structured edifice of soil and grain, not on a farm or field, but in the heart of a busy mega-city or various parts of our world. It is planting the seed into soil and human minds.”
Sunnylands: A Cultural Nexus
Sunnylands Center & Gardens is no stranger to hosting internationally significant art. As a cultural partner of Desert X, the iconic estate has showcased works by women artists from around the globe since 2017, including Lita Albuquerque, Iman Issa, Ghada Amer, and Paloma Contreras Lomas. With its lush gardens and tranquil landscape, Sunnylands provides an ideal setting for Denes’s The Living Pyramid, further solidifying its reputation as a hub for artistic innovation and environmental reflection.
Experience The Living Pyramid
While Desert X 2025 officially launches in March, the early arrival of The Living Pyramid offers visitors a unique opportunity to witness the piece’s transformation over time. As the plants grow, bloom, and change, the pyramid will serve as a living, breathing metaphor for the interconnectedness of life and the resilience of nature.
Don’t miss this chance to experience the first glimpse of Desert X 2025. Plan your visit to Sunnylands Center & Gardens, where art, nature, and humanity converge in a spectacular celebration of creativity and environmental stewardship.
For more information visit: sunnylands.org
