Chandler Museum opens second…

CHANDLER, Ariz. - After visiting this exhibition, you will see desert architecture with fresh eyes. Sonoran Shapes + Structures: Desert-Inspired Architecture and Design highlights a variety of examples of how organic architects and designers have treated the local landscape as their artistic muse. From the clean lines of Frank Lloyd Wright to the curves and arcs of Paolo Soleri, the Sonoran Desert has inspired generations of creatives.

In the early 20th century, there was a desire to live in harmony with nature rather than apart from it. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright shaped this desire into a philosophy now known as organic architecture and design. Rather than imposing rigid right-angled forms on the local landscape, Wright and the architects and designers who followed in his footsteps created buildings that responded to the land, light and materials around them.

In partnership with the Organic Architecture +Design Archives (OA+D), the Chandler Museum has developed this second exhibition in a series, which explores the basics of organic design, its interpretation by different architects and designers in the context of the Sonoran Desert, and how this philosophy continues to influence the spaces we experience today.

Sonoran Shapes + Structures: Desert-Inspired Architecture and Design opens Sept. 20 and will be on view through Feb. 1, 2026, at Chandler Museum, 300 S. Chandler Village Drive. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday from 1-5 p.m.; closed Monday. Free admission.

Find more information on the exhibitions and programming online at Chandler Museum or by calling 480-782-2717.

Media contact:
Rebecca Vega
Chandler Museum
480-782-2879