Monthly Update
Now on View: "Sonoran Shapes + Structures" at Chandler Museum
From the soil underfoot to the sky above, the Sonoran Desert has long been an artistic muse. OA+D's new exhibit, Sonoran Shapes + Structures: Desert-Inspired Architecture and Design, invites visitors to discover how architects and designers have drawn inspiration from the desert’s light, land, and forms—creating buildings meant to live in harmony with nature.
This exhibition highlights the philosophy of organic architecture, pioneered by Frank Lloyd Wright, which calls for site-specific design that responds directly to its surroundings. Explore how Wright’s clean lines and desert adaptations influenced later practitioners like Paolo Soleri, whose expressive curves and arcs also reflect the desert’s dynamic presence. Together, these works demonstrate how the desert continues to inspire fresh interpretations of design.
Developed in partnership with the Chandler Museum, this second exhibition in the series introduces the basics of organic design, its evolution in the Sonoran Desert, and its enduring impact on the spaces we experience today. After your visit, you’ll see desert architecture with new eyes.
Exhibition details
When: Now through February 1, 2026
Where: Chandler Museum, 300 S. Chandler Village Drive
Hours: Tue–Sat, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun, 1–5 p.m.; closed Mon
Admission: Free
From The Archives
One object in the "Sonoran Shapes and Structures" exhibition became the spark for the exhibit’s entire graphic theme: Susan Jacobs Lockhart’s appliqué curtain design, "Cactus Garden." Its vibrant geometry and desert-inspired patterns captured the essence of the show—how organic design draws directly from the desert environment to create bold, living expressions of art.
Created for the Lockhart Cottage at Taliesin West, the curtain was sewn by hand, with layered fabrics forming abstract rhythms that echo cactus shapes and desert light. Both functional and artistic, it reflected the Taliesin tradition of weaving organic design into every part of daily life.
Susan would continue exploring geometric abstraction in textiles, glass, and sculpture, but "Cactus Garden" remains a touchstone—an object that connects the desert’s forms to the creative spirit of Taliesin.
Visitors can see "Cactus Garden" for themselves in the exhibition at the Chandler Museum. Yet decades of desert light have left the fabric fragile, reminding us of the urgent need for conservation. OA+D is raising funds to preserve this remarkable object so its colors, patterns, and story can continue to inspire future generations. If you'd like to help preserve this remarkable textile work of art, reach out to us at info@oadarchives.org
OA+D NEWS & EVENTS
Celebrate Organic Design in the Desert :: 2025 OA+D Celebration Tickets Now Available
Tickets are now available for the 2025 Organic Architecture + Design Celebration at the Chandler Museum, where this year’s theme—"Sonoran Shapes and Structures: Desert-Inspired Architecture and Design"—reflects the newly opened exhibition. Together, the symposium and exhibit highlight how the Sonoran Desert has inspired generations of architects and designers, from Frank Lloyd Wright to today’s practitioners.
The day begins with a symposium from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM featuring guest lecturers on the enduring influence of desert-inspired organic design. In the evening, guests will gather for a social event, offering time to reconnect with Fellows, friends, and the wider OA+D community.
Fundraising initiatives will be part of the Celebration as well, giving attendees the opportunity to directly support OA+D’s mission to preserve rare drawings, photographs, and archives documenting the legacy of organic design.
The OA+D Celebration is more than a symposium—it’s a gathering of community, history, and vision. Reunite with colleagues, meet new friends, and help sustain the legacy of organic architecture and design.
For registration details, tickets, and sponsorship opportunities, visit HERE and see you in Chandler!