Embedding public art across the Coachella Valley (Riverside, CA), Desert X offers an accessible platform for diverse artists to address relevant themes while advancing cultural exchange and education programs that promote shared understanding. Widely acclaimed, the inaugural Desert X took place in 2017, mounting a bold array of temporary, experimental projects by 16 artists. In 2019, the second edition ventured further across the landscape and to the Salton Sea. Following a successful collaboration on the AIUIa desert in Saudi Arabia in 2020, Desert X 2021 placed 13 newly commissioned works in the desert ecology, responding to the global pandemic and intense racial and political protests. Public programs accompany each exhibition, fueled by community partnerships with educators, school districts, cultural organizations, city governments, and local organizations. These include specialized arts training for high school students, bilingual educational resources, online and in-person conversations, performances and music, training for more than 100 volunteers, and educational workshops for children.