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 beach with a mountain range on the horizon under a sky filled with long-exposure curved star-trails

Color photograph of scattered rocks and blocks across a road leading towards two pyramids on the horizon

Color photograph of telephone poles, decrepit trailer homes, and vehicles partly submerged in still water

Color photograph of a man pointing a rifle at another man, both standing in a smokey scrubland

Color photograph of a low mountain range reflected in still water at sunset

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 desert horizon at night with light trails from stars in dark walnut frame

Color photograph of a road through a desert valley with mountains on the horizon

Color photograph of a still lake reflecting a cloudy sky and low mountains on the horizon

Color photograph of a smoke-filled sky above a fenced-in house and fields

Color photograph of a lone figure walking along a beach shrouded in mist

Color photograph of five black structures on the horizon rising above the waters of a calm sea

Color photograph of four people drifting towards the horizon on a raft on a calm sea

Color photograph of a desert field with a car and small aircraft, and four oversized croquet balls.

Color photograph of a cloudy sky

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 beach with a mountain range on the horizon under a sky filled with long-exposure curved star-trails — Richard Misrach, Unnamed Playa (Exposure by Moonlight), 1994

pigment print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61 cm]

Color photograph of scattered rocks and blocks across a road leading towards two pyramids on the horizon — Richard Misrach, Road Blockade and Pyramids, 1989

pigment print, 30 x 37 inches (mount) [76.2 x 94.0 cm]

Color photograph of telephone poles, decrepit trailer homes, and vehicles partly submerged in still water — Richard Misrach, Submerged Trailer-Home, Salton Sea, 1985

pigment print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61 cm]

Color photograph of a man pointing a rifle at another man, both standing in a smokey scrubland — Richard Misrach, Desert Fire #153, 1984

pigment print, 30 x 37 inches (mount) [76.2 x 94.0 cm]

Color photograph of a low mountain range reflected in still water at sunset — Richard Misrach, Pyramid Lake (Orange), 1997

pigment print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61 cm]

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 — Richard Misrach, Aerial Target (“Dart”), Wendover Air Base, Utah, 1990

pigment print, 30 x 37 inches (mount) [76.2 x 94.0 cm]

Color photograph of desert horizon at night with light trails from stars in dark walnut frame — Richard Misrach, Sevier Dry Lake by Moonlight, Utah, 1998

pigment print, 30 x 37 inches (sheet & mount) [76.2 x 94 cm]

Color photograph of a road through a desert valley with mountains on the horizon — Richard Misrach, San Gorgonio Pass, 1981

pigment print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61 cm]

Color photograph of a still lake reflecting a cloudy sky and low mountains on the horizon — Richard Misrach, Mono Lake #2, 1999

pigment print, 30 x 37 inches (mount) [76.2 x 94.0 cm]

Color photograph of a smoke-filled sky above a fenced-in house and fields — Richard Misrach, Desert Fire #43, 1983

pigment print, 30 x 37 inches (mount) [76.2 x 94.0 cm]

Color photograph of a lone figure walking along a beach shrouded in mist — Richard Misrach, Man on Beach (Looking South), Santa Barbara, 1984

pigment print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61 cm]

Color photograph of five black structures on the horizon rising above the waters of a calm sea — Richard Misrach, Oil Derricks, Santa Barbara, 1984

pigment print, 30 x 37 inches (mount) [76.2 x 94.0 cm]

Color photograph of four people drifting towards the horizon on a raft on a calm sea — Richard Misrach, People on Raft with Oil Derricks, Santa Barbara, 1984

pigment print, 30 x 37 inches (mount) [76.2 x 94.0 cm]

Color photograph of a desert field with a car and small aircraft, and four oversized croquet balls. — Richard Misrach, Desert Croquet #3 (Balls, Plane, Car), Black Rock Desert, Nevada, 1987

pigment print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61 cm]

Color photograph of a cloudy sky — Richard Misrach, Cloud #603, 2013

pigment print, 62-3/4 x 82-3/4 inches (framed) [159.4 x 210.2 cm]

Color photograph of a beach with a mountain range on the horizon under a sky filled with long-exposure curved star-trails

Richard MisrachUnnamed Playa (Exposure by Moonlight)

1994

pigment print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61 cm]

Color photograph of scattered rocks and blocks across a road leading towards two pyramids on the horizon

Richard MisrachRoad Blockade and Pyramids

1989

pigment print, 30 x 37 inches (mount) [76.2 x 94.0 cm]

Color photograph of telephone poles, decrepit trailer homes, and vehicles partly submerged in still water

Richard MisrachSubmerged Trailer-Home, Salton Sea

1985

pigment print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61 cm]

Color photograph of a man pointing a rifle at another man, both standing in a smokey scrubland

Richard MisrachDesert Fire #153

1984

pigment print, 30 x 37 inches (mount) [76.2 x 94.0 cm]

Color photograph of a low mountain range reflected in still water at sunset

Richard MisrachPyramid Lake (Orange)

1997

pigment print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61 cm]

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

Richard MisrachAerial Target (“Dart”), Wendover Air Base, Utah

1990

pigment print, 30 x 37 inches (mount) [76.2 x 94.0 cm]

Color photograph of desert horizon at night with light trails from stars in dark walnut frame

Richard MisrachSevier Dry Lake by Moonlight, Utah

1998

pigment print, 30 x 37 inches (sheet & mount) [76.2 x 94 cm]

Color photograph of a road through a desert valley with mountains on the horizon

Richard MisrachSan Gorgonio Pass

1981

pigment print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61 cm]

Color photograph of a still lake reflecting a cloudy sky and low mountains on the horizon

Richard MisrachMono Lake #2

1999

pigment print, 30 x 37 inches (mount) [76.2 x 94.0 cm]

Color photograph of a smoke-filled sky above a fenced-in house and fields

Richard MisrachDesert Fire #43

1983

pigment print, 30 x 37 inches (mount) [76.2 x 94.0 cm]

Color photograph of a lone figure walking along a beach shrouded in mist

Richard MisrachMan on Beach (Looking South), Santa Barbara

1984

pigment print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61 cm]

Color photograph of five black structures on the horizon rising above the waters of a calm sea

Richard MisrachOil Derricks, Santa Barbara

1984

pigment print, 30 x 37 inches (mount) [76.2 x 94.0 cm]

Color photograph of four people drifting towards the horizon on a raft on a calm sea

Richard MisrachPeople on Raft with Oil Derricks, Santa Barbara

1984

pigment print, 30 x 37 inches (mount) [76.2 x 94.0 cm]

Color photograph of a desert field with a car and small aircraft, and four oversized croquet balls.

Richard MisrachDesert Croquet #3 (Balls, Plane, Car), Black Rock Desert, Nevada

1987

pigment print, 20 x 24 inches (mount) [50.8 x 61 cm]

Color photograph of a cloudy sky

Richard MisrachCloud #603

2013

pigment print, 62-3/4 x 82-3/4 inches (framed) [159.4 x 210.2 cm]