Discover the vibrant cultural landscape of downtown Palm Springs through a curated walking tour that showcases contemporary galleries, iconic sculptures, and world-class museums.
Palm Springs isn’t just a desert getaway—it’s a canvas of creativity. With a rich modernist legacy, a thriving community of working artists, and iconic public art installations, the city offers the perfect backdrop for an inspiring walking tour. Whether you’re a casual art lover or a seasoned collector, this self-guided Palm Springs Art Walking Tour lets you experience the city’s visual treasures at your own pace, all within a comfortable stroll through downtown.
A: Palm Springs Art Museum
Start at the Palm Springs Art Museum, the crown jewel of the city’s art scene. Its permanent collection features modern and contemporary works by Helen Frankenthaler, Sam Francis, and Henry Moore, alongside Native American pottery, glass art by Dale Chihuly, and desert photography. Don’t miss the Marcuse Sculpture Garden, where desert landscaping complements large-scale modernist sculptures. Admission grants you entry into the museum and provides access to all the art currently on display, which includes, at any given time, 10 exhibitions and installations.
🍽️Liv’s Café: Located right inside the museum, Liv’s Café is a serene and artful spot to grab a bite without interrupting your creative flow. They offer fresh salads, sandwiches, pastries, and espresso drinks in a modern setting. The shaded patio offers beautiful views of the museum’s sculpture garden.
Here is a complete guide to the Palm Springs Art Museum: Palm Springs Art Museum: Exhibits, Architecture, & Tours Guide
For those interested in architecture, the Aluminaire house is on display next to the Art Museum.
Check on hours as they change seasonally. Parking is free.
101 N Museum Drive
B: Snap a Photo at Forever Marilyn
Across the street from the Palm Springs Art Museum is the downtown park. Stroll through the park, and on the corner of Museum Way and Belardo Road, you discover a 26-foot-tall statue of Marilyn Monroe called Forever Marilyn. This towering sculpture, created by artist Seward Johnson, pays homage to the silver screen icon; it's more than just a selfie spot—it’s a conversation piece that blends nostalgia and pop culture with large-scale public art.
Public Art Along the Way
Head south on Belardo Road, and you will see a mural with the word "greeting."
Graffiti Park
Across from Marilyn, on the other side of Belardo Road, is Graffiti Park. It is a colorful, ever-changing urban canvas.
Greeting Mural
Installed in partnership with Grit Development and the Palm Springs Public Arts Commission, the mural appears on Belardo Road next to the Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel and outside the “pit,” It was created when people selected a small paint-filled cup to match a number on the 7-by-15-foot canvas and set about finger painting their claimed space. You can read more about this mural on the poster posted next to it.
You will also see a large mural of Amanda Gorman on the wall in "the pit." It was painted by Los Angeles artist MisterAlek. The 60x14-foot mural depicts the 22-year-old at the inauguration of President Joe Biden, where she performed her original poem "The Hill We Climb," calling for unity and healing.
Cross the road at the designated crosswalk, head down the breezway and at the end on your left is Hohmann Gallery.
Hohmann Fine Art
Commonly known as HOHMANN—is a family‑owned contemporary art gallery that traces its roots to Germany in 1976, now run by Christian Hohmann. Their Palm Springs “showroom” serves as a beautifully curated event space, showcasing exhibitions by renowned modern and emerging artists, complemented by a larger, museum-style flagship in nearby Palm Desert that spans over 9,000 square feet and houses more than 1,500 works. Known for hosting high-profile public installations, such as David Černý’s iconic “Palm Springs Babies” and Julian Voss-Andreae's “Isabelle,” HOHMANN brings metropolitan sophistication and globally respected art.
Turn right.
Isabelle Sculpture
The public sculpture “Isabelle” by internationally renowned artist and former quantum physicist Julian Voss-Andreae is next to the Kimpton Rowan Hotel. Commissioned by developer Michael Braun of Grit Palm Springs, in collaboration with Hohmann Fine Art, this shimmering, site-specific work captures the city’s spirit, reflecting the sunlit beauty of the desert by day and the glamour of Palm Springs nightlife by night, thanks to custom lighting. Positioned along the walkway between Starbucks and the Kimpton, “Isabelle” appears like a mirage, materializing as you approach—a striking symbol of the city’s diversity and creativity.
Snap a photo and tag it with #IsabellePS to mark your place in the sun.
Colette Miller Wings
Just next to Isabelle is Colette Miller's Wings mural, part of her global angel wings project. She began the project in 2012 in the streets of Los Angeles (the city of angels). It is to remind humanity of our higher energy and higher selves.
"PS I Love You"
"PS I Love You" sculpture, also known as "Love Letters," is an interactive piece to take photos with, where you become the "I." It features two 850-pound platforms supporting the red metal sculptures. Maru Palmersheim and Jack Rivers designed it.
🍽️ Juniper Table: Just next to "PS I Love You," Juniper Table is a Mediterranean-inspired café offering flatbreads, fresh salads, grain bowls, and craft coffee. It’s casual but upscale, and a great place to cool off and grab a bite to eat.
Head East on Tahquitz Way to North Palm Canyon and turn right.
C: Terra Gallery
With a focus on nature, sustainability, and emerging artists, Terra Gallery displays mixed media, organic sculpture, and minimalist painting. Many works explore environmental themes and the intersection of art and ecology.
200 North Palm Canyon Drive
Art Benches Along the Way
There are over 50 hand-painted benches along Palm Canyon Drive and around Palm Springs, painted by local artists.
Here is a list of all of them- The Art Benches of Palm Springs
D: The Palm Springs Architecture and Design Center
A quick walk from the museum takes you to the Palm Springs Architecture and Design Center, a satellite facility housed in a 1961 midcentury modern building by E. Stewart Williams. Rotating exhibits explore Palm Springs' architectural heritage and the evolution of contemporary design.
Highlights of the architecture and design collection include materials from the archives of Arthur Elrod, Albert Frey, Hugh M. Kaptur, Donald Wexler, and E. Stewart Williams, among others; photographs by Julius Shulman; drawings by Richard Neutra, Lawrence Halprin, Steven Holl, Robert Irwin, and Daniel Libeskind; and furniture designed by Greta Magnusson Grossman, Frank Gehry, Ron Arad, the Campana Brothers, and Paul McCobb, to name a few.
Admission is only $5.
300 South Palm Canyon Drive
Check hours as they can vary.
E. Stewart Galleries
A sophisticated stop for serious collectors, Stewart Galleries specializes in fine 19th- and 20th-century art, antiques, and decorative pieces. Though it's just a short drive or bike ride from downtown, this gallery is well worth the detour for those interested in vintage and historical works, especially from California and the American West.
191 South Indian Canyon Drive
Head north on South Indian Canyon Drive toward La Plaza.
Gary Dorothy Imageville will be on your left at 128 La Plaza. You can explore an impressive collection of photographs available as framed fine art pieces and decorative canvases. The offerings include classic black-and-white images and vibrant color photographs, available in various sizes and frame styles to suit any space.
Turn left onto East Tahquitz Canyon Way
Turn right onto North Palm Canyon Drive
9-minute walk
Bonus: Stop by Destination PSP at 170 N. Palm Canyon for a curated selection of Palm Springs-inspired products, including swimwear, home goods, and gifts. It will be on your right as you proceed to the next gallery.
F: Geras Tousignant Gallery
Geras Toursignant Gallery offers bold, contemporary, and thought-provoking works. This gallery is a collaboration between artists Robert Geras and Dennis Tousignant. Expect vibrant abstract works, dramatic lighting, and a dose of desert flair. It includes a collection of vintage and found photography available for sale for the first time in 40 years. It is recommended that you call ahead and make an appointment for viewing.
278 North Palm Canyon
Head north on North Palm Canyon Drive to the next block.
🍽️ If you are hungry for lunch, Bongo Johnny’s is across the street at 301 N Palm Canyon Drive on the upper level. They are a local favorite serving American-style cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Enjoy two large outdoor patios.
G: Michele Fine Art Gallery
Michele Fine Art features works by nationally recognized painters and sculptors. Specialties include photorealism, figurative painting, and classical techniques with modern subjects. Michele has over 20 years of experience in gallery management and is a full-time artist herself.
314 North Palm Canyon Drive
Head north on North Palm Canyon Drive
H: The Michael Weems Collection
Whimsy meets sophistication at The Michael Weems Collection. Weems’ mixed-media work plays with color, pop iconography, and narrative. The shop-like gallery also features curated décor items that feel like functional art. For more than two decades, Michael has captivated the world with his original, hand-etched artwork and bold design sensibility. Born in Annapolis and inspired by museum visits in cities like Washington D.C. and New York, he honed his craft through design roles at Gucci and Tiffany & Co. before launching a glass and crystal business that grew into a multimillion-dollar global brand. His pieces have been featured by Dom Perignon, the Academy Awards, and even gifted by the U.S. Attorney General to international dignitaries.
384 North Palm Canyon Drive
This self-guided walking tour offers a vibrant snapshot of the Palm Springs art scene—but it only scratches the surface. Beyond downtown, the city is home to a growing number of studios, sculpture gardens, boutique galleries, and pop-up exhibitions that stretch across its neighborhoods. From midcentury design and Native Palm Springs to cutting-edge contemporary installations, art is woven into the very fabric of Palm Springs. So take your time, explore beyond the map, and let creativity lead the way—you never know what masterpiece you’ll discover next.
