This month, design lovers from around the world will descend upon California’s Coachella Valley to attend Modernism Week, a celebration of mid-century modern architecture, art, fashion, and culture in America. From Feb 17-27, nonprofit organization Modernism Week will honor the influential architectural genre with a jam-packed calendar brimming with fascinating home tours, film screenings, educational seminars, nightly parties, and a slew of other exciting gatherings.
Modernism Week first got its start in 2006 as a grassroots initiative led by local design and architecture aficionados who wanted to build on the popularity of two other landmark events: the Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale and the annual symposium organized by the Palm Springs Art Museum’s Architecture and Design Council. The festival has since grown into one of the country’s most anticipated design fairs, with more than 350 events scheduled in and around Palm Springs in 2022.
Here’s what to do:
At Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale (Feb 18-21), over 40 premier national and international decorative and fine arts dealers will present a dizzying array of art and décor from the 20th and 21st centuries. On the same weekend, you can check out the Palm Springs Modern Design Expo, which features 50 exhibitors sharing cutting-edge modern home design items.
Attendees of Modernism Week will also have the chance to tour iconic homes in more than 30 neighborhoods scattered throughout the Valley, including old celebrity homes from the Golden Era of Hollywood and Casa Tierra, a soon-to-open vacation rental designed by interior designer and TV host Bobby Berk.
Among the most popular activities is the Signature Home Tour, a fact-filled double-decker bus ride to discover the significant midcentury architectural treasures of Greater Palm Springs. Other experiences sprinkled throughout the 11-day showcase include guided architectural walking and biking tours, a vintage car show, garden tours, and compelling lectures from industry insiders. All events are open to the public, with tickets ranging from $12 to $250 available for purchase on Modernism Week’s website.
