Surreal, soft, labyrinthine, and sunset-colored: this is Maze, the installation that artist Sabine Marcelis brought to the Coachella Festival for the 2026 edition. The artist and designer first participated in the festival in 2025 and has decided to return again this year with a new temporary project. An inflatable sculpture made of PVC with a color palette ranging from red to orange and whose shape is inspired by the surrounding area, the Coachella Valley and the desert region where the artist herself spent much of her adolescence. The effect Marcelis wants to recreate is almost one of protective isolation from the rest of the surroundings, just as the Coachella Volley is isolated from the mountain ranges.
The installation, commissioned by the Public Art Company, an entity in charge of all visual art at Coachella, also serves a functional purpose beyond its aesthetics. The artist, having attended festival concerts herself, understood how important it is to have shaded spaces. Maze’s walls provide shade during the day, offering visitors coolness from the sun’s rays reflecting off the Valley. Sculptural benches line the outside and curves of the maze, providing seating. When the sun sets, pulsating strips of light illuminate inside the inflatable walls, creating what Marcelis hopes will be an “all-encompassing experience.” From concept to installation, Maze took about a year to complete.
The process began with visual research during the 2025 festival. Marcelis worked on sketches from April to July before going into production, wrapping it up toward the end of the year. The production and final installation were done by a local team, requiring an enormous amount of trust on the part of the artist, who defines Maze as a complementary experience to the music that will be heard during the festival days.
Born in 1985, Sabine Marcelis lives and works in Rotterdam, where she established her studio, becoming one of the most influential figures in contemporary design. Her work is distinguished by her innovative use of materials such as resins, glass and natural stone, often combined with light to create unique visual effects. His works thus lie somewhere between art and design, with a minimal but highly expressive aesthetic that can sometimes transform simple materials into almost “magical” objects.
Throughout his career he has collaborated with major international brands and institutions, including IKEA, Vitra, and Fendi. He has also worked with prominent museums and galleries such as the Stedelijk Museum, solidifying his role in the global design scene.
[đź“·Instagram: sabine_marcelis]
