Perspectives on Playa Art

Homeostatic Self Portrait, by Michael Emery, 2009 (Photo by Wendell DeLano)

The 1990s and early 2000s saw the birth of a new school of art, brought about by the altogether unique experience of the Burning Man event. Luckily, a number of observers inside and outside of the organization took to the keyboard to describe the phenomenon as it was happening.

The essays in this section provide a fascinating view into Burning Man’s early years, particularly the roots and evolution of Burning Man art. If you really want to understand what Burning Man is today, you have to learn how it got there.