Featured artwork by Henriette Heiny.

Explore a Curator’s Pick Tour

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2026 Tour

January 23–25, 2026

11AM–4PM Daily
Free, self-guided tour

158 artists
69 studio spaces
10 desert cities

Online Tour Map
Digital Handbook
Artists Directory

A Fresh Way to Discover Art in the Coachella Valley

Curator’s Pick tours are thoughtfully assembled selections of artist studios, each chosen by a guest curator with a distinct creative eye. From bold abstraction to delicate ceramics, from process-driven practices to unexpected materials—each tour offers a unique perspective on the diverse and vibrant art being made across the Coachella Valley.

This Year's Curated Tours

Follow along these narrative-driven experiences, or pick and choose your own tour stops! Curated stops are marked with orange dots in the handbook and on the map.

Desert Muses

X

Kelly Golightly

Creative director, lifestyle influencer, and fashion designer

The Materialists

X

Elizabeth Armstrong

Independent curator and former director of the Palm Springs Art Museum

The Painted Desert

X

Steven Biller

Editor and writer specializing in California art

Hidden Gems

X

Chris Blades

Executive Director and Co-founder of Desert Open Studios

Curator's Picks: Coming November
See FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

A Curator’s Pick is a self-guided mini-tour within Desert Open Studios, featuring 5–10 studios personally selected by a local curator. Each tour reflects a specific artistic perspective—like a focus on abstraction, mixed media, ceramics, or emerging voices—and invites you to explore the studios through a more curated lens.
Our curators are artists, collectors, educators, gallerists, and cultural leaders from across the Coachella Valley. Each brings their own creative eye and unique point of view to the tour they design. The full list of curators will be released in September.
Not at all. Curator’s Pick tours are free, open to all, and fully self-guided. Simply choose a tour that interests you, check out the map, and visit the studios at your own pace during the Desert Open Studios weekend.
Tours are featured on our website with interactive maps and downloadable guides. You’ll also find printed postcards and signage at participating studios during the event.
Curated tours are a great way for community tastemakers to share their perspective and is entirely independent of the Desert Open Studios team. It is at the sole discretion of the curator. We promote all listed artists equally in our regular marketing.
Curated tours offer a more focused experience. They can help you dive deeper into specific styles, materials, or processes—and introduce you to artists you might not find otherwise. Many featured studios are tucked away in home studios or lesser-known locations.
Absolutely! Mix and match based on your interests. Each Curator’s Pick offers a different lens, so you can explore a range of creative voices throughout the weekend.
Yes—each studio featured in a Curator’s Pick tour will have special signage to let you know you’re in the right place. Some tours may also include printed postcards or “passport” stamps (if you're collecting stops along the way).
Head over to the Curated Tours List to browse this year’s selections, meet the curators, and plan your own path through the Coachella Valley’s incredible creative spaces.