ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Origins of Land Art Movement Traced to 1960s Nevada Desert Journey

publication · 2026-03-21

The land art movement's beginnings are often traced to a road trip taken by artists Michael Heizer, Nancy Holt, and Robert Smithson to the Nevada desert in the late 1960s. This pivotal journey helped establish the foundations of earthworks and land art as significant artistic practices that transformed perspectives on art's relationship with natural environments.

Key facts

  • Land art movement originated in the late 1960s
  • Key artists included Michael Heizer, Nancy Holt, and Robert Smithson
  • The movement began with a desert journey to Nevada
  • Earthworks emerged as a significant art form
  • The movement changed perspectives on art and nature

Entities

Artists

Institutions

  • The Wall Street Journal

Locations

  • Nevada desert

Sources