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We heard about a house made of mirrors reflecting the surrounding desert landscape, and then we heard about billboards showing images of the mountains they blocked and blending in like camouflage. Mysterious. Imagine our surprise when we learned they were part of an even bigger series of art projects spanning more than 40 miles throughout the Southern California desert.

This is the inaugural work of , a contemporary art exhibition in the Palm Springs area featuring work that will appear on a recurring basis. The first iteration released 17 artists at preselected sites—most of them outdoors. The result: a road trip of free art that pays homage to the desert’s natural beauty. The projects debuted on February 25, and most will be on display through April 30, so if you find yourself in the area by the end of the month, seek out all the exhibits. ( to help you find your way.) In the meantime, here are some of the most impressive sites.

“Mirage,” Doug Aitken

Aitken inside and out, so that it both reflects and disappears into the desert landscape. He calls it a “visual echo chamber and life-size kaleidoscope.” We call it the most beautifully confusing piece of architecture we’ve ever seen. The house will remain on view through October 31.

“Visible Distance/Second Sight,” Jennifer Bolande

It’s almost impossible to ignore the showing striking mountain photos that Bolande set up along the Gene Autry Trail. But as you drive by, you’ll also notice that—for one moment—each image lines up with the landscape behind it, “reconnecting the space that the rectangle of the billboard has interrupted.” Ed Abbey would be proud.

“Shybot,” Norma Jeane

, a real working rover, represents the idea of desert as a mysterious, unexplored place. But it’s also endearing: Shybot is programmed to avoid all human contact and rolls away from any motion it detects.

“One I Call,” Sherin Guirguis

This is based on traditional Egyptian towers made for homing pigeons. It represents migration—a concept that Guirguis, a Los Angeles–based artist who was born in Egypt, often evokes. “The piece stands at once as a beacon, a sanctuary, and a memorial for the people and communities of the desert whose histories are often dismissed or marginalized,” the project description reads.

“Hollow Earth,” Glenn Kaino

Watch your step as you enter this unassuming shed. Kaino installed a in the darkness that appears to drop into the belly of the earth. Stare into the void and you’ll see yourself—reflected in a series of mirrors. Stare a little longer and you might start to understand the fantasies of subterranean worlds that Kaino hopes to explore with this piece.

“I Am,” Tavares Strachan

From above, the piece lights up to read “.” (Surprise.) From the ground, it’s just as striking—Strachan dug 290 craters across an area the size of two football fields to spell out the phrase in neon lights.

“The Circle of Land and Sky,” Phillip K. Smith III

“” will never look the same at any given moment. Smith staked 300 mirrored rods into the ground at 10-degree angles to reflect a new image and throw new shadows throughout the day. It’s a simple concept with a striking payoff. You’ll want to spend plenty of time walking through this one.