Here’s a quick interview with Bailey Anderson, a North American artist who is a co-founder of the Desert Biennial Project, a multi-day art exhibition and party out in the middle of the desert.
Crowdfunding for the 2027 iteration is now live! Support the project here if you are able!
With that, here’s what Bailey had to say!
Who are you and what do you do at DBP?
I’m Bailey Anderson, ACCNV/DBP cofounder and local Las Vegas based artist. Myself and Iulia Octavia founded our organization with the hopes of connecting Nevada artists to opportunities to experiment with their work and tap into work that encourages them to reach new heights. As we have worked on these projects with people who have shaped them fundamentally, like Laura Esbensen, we’ve discovered the importance of giving artists the tools to develop agency and direction in their work. Just like artists in their practices, I see myself being shaped by the work I do and the outcome of each project.
For readers discovering it for the first time, what is the Desert Biennial Project?
The Desert Biennial Project is a temporary, outdoor exhibition created by and for Nevada’s arts community. It’s run by the local nonprofit Arts Community Coalition of Nevada, which we founded in 2024.
In 2025, 107 Nevada-based artists transformed the Apex Dry Lakebed with sculpture, installation, performance, sound, and other work made for our theme, “GRAVITY.” We give artists at all stages of their careers room to experiment at a scale that traditional galleries often cannot accommodate.
Learn more about our 2025 event here.
What should visitors know about DBP 2027?
Our 2027 Biennial, themed “FLUX,” will take place April 2–3, 2027, at Jean Dry Lakebed outside Las Vegas.
The event is temporary by design: artists install on the lakebed, the public gathers for two days, and we remove everything without a trace. Supporting the campaign helps us make that temporary space possible.
What does FLUX mean for the 2027 Biennial?
For our third iteration, FLUX considers movement, impermanence, and continuous change. The theme opens conversations around ecological shifts, migration, identity, personal transformation, and Nevada’s layered histories. Guest curator Lydia Silic describes it as “change that is environmental, personal, and cultural, and an opportunity to investigate how those shifts appear in both the land and the people who live here.”
As a Nevada-based mixed-media photo artist, her own work focuses on nostalgia, land, and personal history. Her experience across the state shapes how she understands its diverse landscapes and communities.
What drew Lydia Silic to the project?
Lydia has followed DBP since its beginning. She was drawn to its support for ambitious, large-scale work and the collaborative system that brings artists together outside conventional exhibition spaces. For FLUX, she is excited to expand her curatorial practice, meet artists from across Nevada, and build something that reflects the state’s evolving landscape and communities.
How can readers support the Desert Biennial Project right now?
Our crowdfunding campaign is live, and every contribution helps us build DBP 2027: FLUX. In 2025, 80% of the project was crowdfunded, so community support is central to what makes the event possible.
Donations are tax-deductible, and 100% of the funds raised go directly toward operating the biennial.
Readers can also support FLUX by purchasing DBP merchandise, sharing the campaign, and following @desertbiennialproject on Instagram for updates.
