THE ART OF BURNING MAN
The Art of Burning Man
Burning Man is much more than just a temporary community. It's a city in the desert, dedicated to radical self-reliance and radical self-expression. Striking sculpture, installations, performance, theme camps, art cars and costuming flower from the playa. The art at Burning Man has received positive reviews in "Art Week," "Public Art" and the "New Art Examiner," and is currently featured online in Leonardo Journal. Larry Harvey has addressed audiences at the Portland Art Museum, SUNY New Paltz, and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis on the subject. Five exhibits on the art of Burning Man have been held, and we have acquired an impressive collection of artifacts from the community. Our grant program has engendered a proliferation of large-scale art installations on the playa. David Bigg's Hanged One report details the history of a Burning Man grant project.
If you are interested in an examination of recent art at Burning Man, take time to read Darryl Van Rhey's "The Art of Burning Man". In addition, read the interview with Larry Harvey from 1997 about art, Burning Man and art institutions, and his 2000 lecture on art and community, La Vie Boheme. To learn about our art curator, see the Curator's Statement.
Our mission is to promote and support interactive public art, even beyond our event. The Black Rock Arts Foundation has been established for that purpose, and focuses on community art at our regional events.
