History

In 2000, the artist Andrea Zittel established A-Z West in the high desert near Joshua Tree. Since then, A-Z West has grown from its initial five-acre plot to a sprawling compound that occupies over eighty acres. 

Recognizing not only the potential of the vast desert landscape as a site for art but also the creativity of the high desert community, in 2002 Zittel, along with Andy Stillpass, John Connelly, Shaun Regen and Lisa Anne Auerbach, founded High Desert Test Sites (HDTS), a non-profit organization that supports immersive experiences and exchanges among artists, critical thinkers, and the public.

Since its founding, HDTS has hosted more than 460 artists from near and far, 12 expansive site-specific programs, and 25 solo projects. View these projects at archive.hdts.site.

In 2020 the organization took over stewardship of the A-Z West compound including Zittel’s former home and studio, guest cabins, site-specific artworks, as well as many acres dedicated to HDTS projects. This base is used to bring together artists, writers, and thinkers to engage the desert and its communities. Programs include an annual Artist Fellowship, residencies, lectures, workshops, educational outreach, and community engagement.