Richard Misrach: Desert Cantos

Begun in 1979, this ongoing project explores the southwest American desert landscape, and the impact of our human presence. As the artist explains, “You look at landscape, but it’s not really landscape, it’s a symbol for our country, it’s a metaphor for our country.”

Color photograph of a road receding into the distant desert with red-orange tablelands and snow-capped mountains on the horizon
Color photograph of a submerged gas station in large body of water with mountain range on the horizon
Color photograph of an abandoned swimming pool with a diving board alongside a view of the Salton Sea along the horizon framed in dark wood
Color photograph of a rusted piece of metal sticking out of the ground at an angle in a bare field with two small buildings in the background
Color photograph of the desert during a sunny day with several clouds in the sky and the shadow of the photographer in the foreground
Color photograph of scattered rocks and blocks across a road leading towards two pyramids on the horizon
Color image of a color photograph of several figures waist deep in lake in middle of desert framed in white
Color photograph of a man pointing a rifle at another man, both standing in a smokey scrubland
Color photograph of a road through a desert valley with mountains on the horizon
Color image of a color photograph depicting encrusted tracks in middle of desert framed in white
Color image of a color photograph of a lake within a desert amongst the stars framed in white
Color image of a color photograph depicting a cluster of rocks as creatures in middle of desert framed in black
Color image of a color photograph of along exposure depicting air traffic and Venus over san francisco framed in black
Color photograph of oil derricks off the coast of Santa Barbara on a cloudy day framed in white
Color photograph of a loading pit in the middle a desert with mountain range along the horizon with negative boarders around image
Color photograph of the sky with clouds in shades of blue, purple, and pink framed in wood
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Related Portfolios

Color photograph of the US/Mexico border with a mountain range in the distance with pinkish blue skies

Richard Misrach: Border Cantos
Color photograph of the surface of a calm blue ocean

Richard Misrach: On The Beach
Color photograph of the distant Golden Gate Bridge under a linear break in the clouds

Richard Misrach: Golden Gate
Color reversal image of a dancer on a cliff mid pose alongside the ocean framed in black

Richard Misrach: Color Reverse