Mirage: Mirror-Covered House in California Desert
At the crossroad of the San Jacinto mountains and the Coachella valley, California, artist Doug Aitken built an extraordinary house coated with mirrors. Mirage house was created as installation for the Desert X art festival, for which 16 artworks have been installed across the Coachella Valley. Mirage is a ranch-style suburban American house. The house reflects surroundings and offers a rather confusing disguise. When it comes to visiting this house, everything counts. The time of the day and weather effect the experience. Every corner offers a different perspective.
“At night the distant lights refract to create a universe of stars. On a tranquil afternoon the sky is transformed into banks of blue fragmented by slices of clouds. There is no fixed perspective or correct interpretation. Each experience of this living artwork will be unique.”
Desert X opened 25 February 2017 and runs until 30 April 2017, however Aitken’s Mirage will remain in place until 31 October 2017.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Former site of Doug Aitken’s Mirage (2017 Desert X installation), Desert Palisades near Palm Springs, California, USA
- Access
- The artist’s official project site currently labels the Palm Springs Mirage permanently closed. Desert X’s archive records the 2017 installation, and the former site is in Desert Palisades, a private gated community. Do not enter or approach the former site without authorization; no public visitor access is offered.
- Admission
- No current admission is available: the Palm Springs installation is permanently closed and is not a visitor attraction.
- Time needed
- There is no current public visit or visit duration: Mirage is permanently closed in Palm Springs.
- Best season
- No visitor season applies: the Palm Springs installation is permanently closed.
- Opening hours
- No public opening hours: the Palm Springs installation is permanently closed.
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-28
Suggest an edit
No account needed. Your update goes to the editor for review.
Explorer Passport
Next badge: Trail Scout
Unlocked after exploring 5 different unusual places.
0 of 5 places explored
Discover more from Unusual Places
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
