Lake Verea's DarkRooms and Other Games Explores Queer Intimacy in Midcentury Architecture

The Palm Springs Art Museum presents Lake Verea: DarkRooms and Other Games, an exhibition by Mexico City–based duo Francisca Rivero-Lake and Carla Verea. The artists photograph iconic midcentury homes—Richard Neutra's Kaufmann House and Albert Frey's Frey House II—using flash photography to evoke nocturnal exploration. They often appear in the images, dressed in black, sometimes obscured. Guest curator Mimi Zeiger notes the work raises questions about what happens in these spaces after dark. A special focus is Albert Frey's Aluminaire House, captured under moonlight to highlight its aluminum facade's materiality. The exhibition also includes "frottragaphy" works: 60-by-60 cm aluminum rubbings from architectural surfaces. Executive Director Christine Vendredi states the work invites reconsideration of architectural landmarks through atmosphere and human presence. The show is part of the museum's A+D and Q+ art initiatives, running through September 13, 2026.