When An Alien Decided To Stop By
Who would’ve thought that an extraterrestrial being would visit our planet and accidentally crash its UFO at Burning Man? Hey, at least a night of wild partying in the desert awaited, so it’s not all bad.
All jokes aside, this amazing picture was taken at Burning Man 2014. According to several outlets, that year, an astonishing 65,000 people stopped by Black Rock Desert in Nevada for a week of partying and all sorts of fun activities!
When People Found Medusa
Burning Man is such a popular event that even mythical creatures want to attend. Let’s only hope nobody got turned to stone while partying because that would’ve been a bad ending to an otherwise memorable night.
This amazing photo is from Burning Man 2016. In addition to Medusa, around 70,000 other people attended the festival at Black Rock City, the temporary town that's built —and subsequently taken down— every year solely for Burning Man.
The Giant Ballerina
What better way to dance the night away than doing so with a giant ballerina? While certainly intimidating, this one is definitely an interesting attraction among the many other quirks of Burning Man.
This amazing sculpture was built by Spanish artist Miguel Ángel Martín for Burning Man 2017. The 19 ft ballerina, named Euterpe, was made with fiberglass and metal. But that's not all! Festival attendees could actually make Euterpe move thanks to a system of pulleys. How cool is that?
The Stairwell
This festival features tons of interactive sculptures and activities, and some are mind-blowing —such as this staircase made of stone. As you can see, ‘burners’ really liked going up and down this impressive and somewhat scary attraction.
This art installation was built by Berlin-based artist Benjamin Langholz for Burning Man 2019. Named Stone 27, it features 27 stones arranged in an ascending ring, which are supported by a central pillar and three surrounding columns. Would you go up this staircase?
A Dystopian Horse
Countless post-apocalyptic films are set in the desert. So, it’s no surprise that someone decided to channel that dystopian vibe into Burning Man with this bizarre horse made of metal and tire scraps.
The horse is part of an art installation titled Rubber Horses, which was built by Dorothy Trojanowski for Burning Man 2005. According to the artist, the installation —which also features two more horses— pays tribute to wild Nevada as it is home to the largest population of wild horses. In addition, Rubber Horses is an homage to the tire scraps that can be seen on the side of every highway.
The Biggest Bike You’ve Ever Seen
Why would anyone need such a gigantic bicycle? We might never know. Still, this sculpture is super impressive and definitely deserves a spot on this list, don’t you think?
This art installation was built for Burning Man 2014, the same year in which 65,000 people attended the festival at the gargantuan Nevada desert. That's a lot of people! We wonder how many of them hopped on this giant bike for a quick photo...
Too Much Information
While certainly iconic, the fact that Burning Man takes place in the desert means that some dust will inevitably get in some rather unwanted places. And this hilarious burner decided to be as upfront about it as possible!
This sign was built by an unknown artist for Burning Man 2017, and as you can see, it became a super popular motto for everyone who attended because, well, it's relatable AF. There's no way to get rid of the dust while staying in Black Rock City, so it's best to have fun with it!
Swan Lake
Another staple of this festival is the insane vehicles, which are mostly built from scratch solely for the event. For example, this metallic swan’s design is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it’s super impressive that it actually worked! Talk about making a grand entrance!
This incredible art car, named The Prodigal Swan, was built by a group of artists who call themselves the Dust to Dust Collective for Burning Man 2016. The swan was 14 foot-long, had a booming sound system and could even transport up to 10 passengers across the Nevada desert!
Golden Couple
In addition to unique sculptures and fun activities, Burning Man serves as an opportunity for attendees to express themselves freely, and what better way than doing so than with an outlandish costume? This couple went for matching gold ensembles, and we’re all for it!
The picture was taken at Burning Man 2016 and features Canadian actress Jacqueline M. Wood casually posing with her partner in front of an amazing sculpture of two gorillas —which was built by artist Laurence Vallières.
Fire Octopus
Another vehicle that simply blew our minds, this fire-spitting metal octopus, has that steampunk vibe that we all love. Its intricate design makes this mechanical cephalopod one of the most impressive vehicles on this list!
The name of this magnificent art car is El Pulpo Mecánico, which is Spanish for "the mechanical octopus." It was designed and built by Duane Flatmo along with his friend Jerry Kunkel. El Pulpo Mecánico first made its way to Burning Man in 2011 and has since stopped by numerous times, becoming a staple of the festival.
Man-Led Carriage
Tons of strange things happen at Burning Man; that’s a known fact. One of the best examples of weird stuff going on at this festival is this girl on a carriage who’s whipping her barely-clothed driver. The faux horse head on the bike is the cherry on top of this bizarre pie.
This photo was reportedly taken at Burning Man 2015, which saw over 70,000 people from all parts of the world come together for a week of self-expression, partying and shenanigans like the one pictured above. With that amount of people, it's no surprise that Burning Man has gained a reputation for being a festival where anything goes.
Apocalyptic Squad
This stylish trio looks like they’ve just stepped out of Mad Max with their goggles and scarves. While they’re likely dressed that way due to all the desert dust, it’s still giving that post-apocalyptic vibe that seems to be a staple of Burning Man.
This wonderful photo was taken by photographer James Norbury at Burning Man 2019, which unknowingly turned out to be the last before the coronavirus pandemic hit, resulting in the festival getting postponed —much to the dismay of several burners.
Spirit Animal
Another amazing sculpture that looks straight out of a Studio Ghibli movie like Princess Mononoke. This colorful animal features body parts from a tiger, a dragon, and a peacock —and it’s epic as hell. The girl in an all-black ensemble posing next to it only adds to the legendary status of this artwork.
This jaw-dropping installation, titled Transmutation, was built by Mexican artist Arturo Gonzalez for the 2019 edition of Burning Man. According to the festival's official website, the sculpture intended to draw attention to the possibility of cloning extinct species and whether that was ethical or not. How deep!
Sacred Geometry
This psychedelic piece looks amazing, and we can’t help but wonder how many hours it must’ve taken to build it. Although it’s hard to figure out exactly what this abstract art installation is, its intricate design it’s nevertheless impressive!
This beautiful and soothing work was built by San Francisco-based creator HYBYCOZO for Burning Man 2015. The piece, titled Deep Thought, featured 60 golden panels that cast mesmerizing shadows all over Black Rock City. Needless to say, this was one of the most popular pieces that year!
Planet Of The Apes
So far, we've had a glimpse of what Burning Man is really like through the lens of its sculptures and vehicles. But what about the festival's attendees? How is the experience for them? Well, we think this next picture answers that question.
As you can see, the hilarious and weird snapshot speaks for itself. What better way to get into the desert vibe than to channel the post-apocalyptic vibes of a classic film like Planet of the Apes? It’s safe to say that these girls understood the assignment!
Metal Cobra
Another amazing art installation. This metal reptile is intimidating and beautiful all at once —and it’s also spitting fire, which only adds up to the wonder of it all. As seen from the pic, we’re not the only ones fascinated with this sculpture, as there are tons of people staring in awe.
The installation is named The Serpent Mother and was exhibited at Burning Man in 2015. Built by the art collective Flaming Lotus Girls, this 168-foot-long sculpture allowed people to interact with it by pushing a series of buttons, which controlled its flames and jaw movements.
Best Dressed
There’s something about golden outfits and Burning Man, right? This girl decided to attend the iconic event with a shiny ensemble, complete with a metallic bunny mask and all. The outfit looks wonderful, so congrats to her for nailing such a bold look!
This amazing photo was taken at Burning Man 2017, which saw thousands of people (70,000 to be exact) head out to the remote Nevada desert to enjoy a week full of fun experiences and outlandish outfits like the one pictured above.
Monkey
Most sculptures in this list, while impressive, are scary. But this monkey made of metal is kinda cute. Its design is not as intricate as others we have seen, but it remains a wonderful piece of art! Anyways, who said something had to be complex in order to be beautiful?
This wonderful art installation is titled Pan Genius and was created by artist Amy Munson for Burning Man 2018. The interactive sculpture, according to the festival's website, served as "a playful reminder of humanity’s origins."
Attack Of The Furries
Burning Man is a large festival with thousands of people attending every year. So it’s no surprise that sometimes things go a little off the rails, like when a group of furries decided to show up in costume for the party!
This bizarre occurrence was captured by photographer Jim Urquhart at Burning Man 2017. The furries stood over an art installation titled The Pier and performed for hundreds of onlookers. We wonder how they managed to survive with all the desert heat...
Meditation
Burning Man is not just about a week of non-stop partying and setting a wooden man on fire. While the festival may be popular for that, there’s also a spiritual side to this whole experience. As seen in the pic, people often attend workshops and meditate in the beautiful Nevada desert.
In addition to meditation and yoga, Burning Man includes AA meetings and support groups for anyone struggling with substance abuse. There is also a slew of bizarre and fun activities such as coloring in pictures of Nicolas Cage and watching old episodes of Bob Ross' The Joy of Painting set to electronic beats.
Extreme Sports
Another fun thing to do at Burning Man besides partying and meditating is… Sand-surfing! While water is scarce in the Nevada desert, there's plenty of sand available for any adrenaline junkie who's willing to give sand surfing a try.
Besides, let's face it: sand surfing is actually the most desert-friendly sport ever. And Black Rock City is perfect for all daredevils out there who want to practice this extreme sport —just beware of scorpions and snakes hiding in the sand!
Crazy Hats
This festival welcomes people from all genders and ages and encourages them to express themselves whichever way they want. Just look at this senior citizen enjoying his time at Burning Man with a funny, colorful hat! The big smile on his face really says it all.
In fact, one of the principles of Burning Man is radical inclusion. This means that absolutely anyone can be a part of the festival's community. That is, as long as they provide for their own basic needs, follow the guidelines stated in the annually updated event "survival guide," and purchase a ticket.
Dusty Hug
Besides extreme sports, wild parties, workshops and bizarre activities, there’s also room for love in this festival. Although with the sandstorms and all, it’s bound to get dusty. But that didn’t stop this cute couple from packing on the PDA!
It's actually kind of impressive the amount of commitment to showing affection this couple has. Most people wouldn't want to get too close to anyone while being trapped in a sandstorm, but these two managed to do so. So, congratulations to them!
See You Later, Alligator
This photo shows yet another one of Burning Man’s incredible art installations. This geometric alligator looks amazing, and the fact there’s a beautiful sunset behind the sculpture only makes this picture more jaw-dropping.
The picture was taken by French photographer Victor Habchy in 2014. The 21.5-foot tall wooden sculpture, which was named Big Al, was built by artist Brennan Steele as an homage to the Burning Man community of New Orleans.
Unicorn
The crazy hats just keep coming! This burner went for a mythical vibe with her headpiece, which simulates the signature horn from a unicorn. She also included white feathers and beads. All that, paired up with heart-shaped glasses, only adds to the extravagance of her look —which is super appropriate for Burning Man.
Let's only hope that the desert wind didn't end up flying the cute hat away because we're sure it must've taken hours to put together, and that would've been a real shame. Nevertheless, it is such an adorable look we just had to add it to this list!
Comfy Bed
Let's be honest: Burning Man is not a luxurious experience for anyone. On the one hand, the event takes place in the middle of nowhere, so it’s hard to reach. On the other, Black Rock City is miles away from any hotels. But that doesn't stop people from participating!
They say necessity is the mother of invention. So people who attend Burning Man always find a way to make their situation a bit more comfortable. These burners, for example, came up with a clever solution to the problems we mentioned earlier: a giant bed vehicle! Talk about killing two birds with one stone.
Bunny Car
Some burners go for comfortable vehicles, like the giant bed we featured on the previous slide. Others, on the other hand, simply want to amp up the extravagance of the Burning Man experience with their rides. And boy, have these people achieved their goal!
There are many examples of bizarre art vehicles at Burning Man —the stranger, the better. But the car featured here definitely takes the prize. These people built an amazing white rabbit vehicle that looks straight out of Alice in Wonderland, and we're all for it!
A Sweet Message
Burning Man features all kinds of art installations: from abstract, interactive pieces to more direct sculptures. This one, for example, shares a simple yet poignant message: love. Isn’t that sweet?
It's hard to see from the picture, but there are tiny birds carved out in the metal lettering of this wonderful piece. The sculpture, titled LOVE, was built by artist Laura Kimpton and her longtime collaborator Jeff Schomberg and first appeared at Burning Man in 2019.
Eel
We've talked about the many strange things that occur at such a popular event as Burning Man. Sometimes the weirdness appears in the form of participants, other times in the artsy vehicles that are built for the festival. And from time to time, it's a mixture of the two —like in this next photo.
Another one of the bizarre Burning Man vehicles, this burner decided to show up to the event riding a motorcycle eel. What makes this picture even more strange is the fact that the man is wearing nothing but a red thong and loafers. But hey, to each their own!
The Lovers
Burning Man is known for its artwork. So it’s always refreshing to see the effort people put into delivering some seriously jaw-dropping sculptures, like this one that features a couple sharing a warm embrace.
This beautiful piece, adequately titled Embrace, was made of delaminated plywood and it was built by art collective the Pier Group for Burning Man 2014. Unfortunately, it didn't last long —the sculpture ended up getting burned to the ground as part of the festival.
Sand Angels
Who said you need snow to make snow angels? If you’re in the desert, you can switch things up a bit and make sand angels —just as fun and the best part is that you won’t get frozen! This is another desert-friendly activity, much like sand surfing, although not as extreme.
Taking a somewhat spiritual stance, making sand angels can even be a creative way to honor one's inner child and have fun like most of us did when we were kids —which is something that the girl pictured above can be seen doing! The only thing to look out for are probably insects hiding in the sand.
Family Time
Although Burning Man is mostly regarded as a festival that provides tons of activities for adults, some people choose to make it a family-friendly experience. For example, the couple featured in this picture brought their kid along with them for some desert fun. Like we mentioned before, one of the ten principles of Burning Man is radical inclusion. So it's no surprise that some participants include parents and their children.
The event allows kids under 18 to attend as long as they're accompanied by a parent or guardian. However, the decision to bring children to Burning Man isn't one that should be taken lightly and the festival's organizers know this, so they compiled a 10-page "Family Survival Guide" with tips on how to help kids endure the extreme weather conditions and avoid getting lost.
Burn Your Ego
Some of the sculptures that are built for Burning Man are burnt as part of the festival on the last night before it ends. One of the pieces that eventually suffered that fate is this gigantic one, which features the word “ego.” So, the message of this sculpture is quite blunt: burn your ego.
This art installation was titled EGO, and it was built by Laura Kimpton (who we've featured earlier) in collaboration with Michael Garlington for Burning Man 2012. It was made out of wood, and 10,000 gold replicas of trophies and was 20 feet tall and 60 feet long.
The Burning Man
Burning Man originated as a small bonfire ritual on the summer solstice in 1986. The first event was held by Larry Harvey and Jerry James, who also built the first effigy. Since then, it has become an annual event that attracts thousands of people from different parts of the world.
The biggest event in the whole Burning Man experience is, like its name reveals, the burning of a large wooden effigy. The ceremony occurs on the penultimate night of the festival, providing closure to its nine-day run. As seen in the picture, this is a mesmerizing event that attracts tons of onlookers.
Whatever This Is
You thought we were done with the abstract sculptures? You were wrong! This amazing art installation is mindblowing: it’s very beautiful, and its intricate design surely makes it one of the best Burning Man sculptures we’ve seen so far.
This piece, titled Brainchild, was built by artist Michael Christian for Burning Man 2015. The interactive sculpture, according to its creator, was a celebration of "the inquisitive spirit of play and exploring the plurality of forms that can be expressed through biologically inspired shapes and patterns found in nature."
Full Picture
Sometimes you just need to see things from another perspective —and boy, does Burning Man look different when seen from a plane! The temporary city that’s built solely for the festival looks tiny compared to the immense desert that surrounds it.
Black Rock City's overall layout and infrastructure are created by Department of Public Works volunteers, who often take residence in the city weeks before and after the event. The remainder of the city's elements, such as art installations, villages and theme camps as well as individual camping, are all created by Burning Man participants.
Fluffy Bike
Not every vehicle in Burning Man is made of metal; some are just fluffy and soft, like the bicycle featured in this image. Although we’re not sure that bringing something made of white fur into the desert is a good idea, it sure looks great.
Jokes aside, bikes are actually super convenient vehicles for moving around the temporary city —especially at night, so burners often add lighting to their bicycles and incorporate them into their decorations. What a treat it must be to watch all those colorful bikes getting around Black Rock City!
Circus
In addition to the many workshops, sculptures and classes —among several other activities—, Burning Man offers tons of performances where anyone can be an artist. Someone can dance in a strange costume or set up a theme camp —the possibilities are endless! That's why it's common to see performances everywhere, and some are really bizarre.
One of those amazing and weird examples is the folks featured in this picture. These burners took the phrase “circus freak” to heart. And by that, we mean that they attended the event in outlandish costumes and stilts! It must’ve been really uncomfortable to walk around in those, especially while carrying someone.
Marching Teapots
This art installation/part of a vehicle is probably one of the best ones on this list. These gigantic, surrealistic teapots look like they were modeled after Salvador Dalí’s paintings, which makes them even cooler. Plus, they’re so big that people can get in there!
This amazing art installation was created by British artist Alex Wright (aka Wreckage International), and it's named The Lost Teaparty. It first appeared at Burning Man in 2014and was featured again at the festival two years later.
Sandstorm
One of the downsides of having a big festival take place in the middle of the desert, besides the heat, is the possibility of encountering a dust storm —which is scary! Fortunately, the girls in this picture brought some goggles and face masks to the event.
In fact, dust storms can get so intense at Burning Man that back in 2018, festival officials shut down the entrance gates temporarily, and suggested that those planning to attend stayed in Reno until the wind calmed down. Fortunately, it did and no harm was done.
Crystal Heart
This picture features a giant-sized heart made from crystals. The reflection of the crystals on the sand makes it look as though the woman was soaking her feet in crystal-clear Caribbean waters.
On this occasion, the festival's theme was "The Great Unknown". And what's more unknown than the troubles of the heart? The artist truly nailed it with the metaphor.
Aerial Art
If I didn't know any better, I would've assumed that those lit tubes were an actual installation at 2021's Burning Man festival. However, they're nothing but mere lights.
Light paintings such as these can be formed by using light painting tubes, which are mercury-vapor lamps that use flourescence to produce lights visible to the human eye. It looks like a Broadway show!
Metal Hog
This metallic sculpture of a wild boar was inaugurated at Burning Man in 2016. The giant 20-feet-tall and 30-feet-long artwork was built over a shaft, allowing it to rotate 360 degrees.
The fact that it's made out of steel makes it unbreakable, which explains why there are dozens of people climbing on top of it. As its creator Bryan Tedrick said, "It will serve as a gathering point for unimagined interactions".
Giant Mantis
This bizarre praying mantis made its debut in 2015 and it has become a classic ever since then. In 2021, this enormous sculpture became one of "Renegade" Burning Man's most popular artworks.
American artist Heather Dessel made this sculpture using the hot-dip galvanizing procedure, which consists in coating iron and steel with zinc. This allows the sculpture to resist blowing sand as well as extremely hot temperatures.
Snail Truck
This magical half-snail, half-school bus is probably the most bizarre vehicle to ever be seen. One can't help but wonder what the artist's inspiration was.
It's hilarious that they built a truck out of an animal famous for being slow and fragile. That irony is probably the whole point of the artwork. It's practical as it is unique, and it offers people free rides across the desert.
Collective Hug
It's hard to tell exactly how tall this sculpture is, but the fact that it towers over the faraway mountains indicates its sheer size.
Most sculptures featured in Burning Man are that huge because they're meant to promote community participation. That's why many of these art pieces are things where people can meet up and party in.
Funky Skunk
This skunk resembles the snail truck, except it's a little more psychedelic and bizarre. Actually, it looks like a fusion of a skunk, a squirrel, and a dinosaur.
The whole point of these artworks is to bring people together and foster a sense of unity. That's why "Funky Skunk" offers free rides across the desert to those wandering souls in the middle of Nevada's desert.
Giant Tortoise
Vehicles and animals are two of the most recurrent motifs in Burning Man festivals, and here's another example. Like many other sculptures on this list, this giant tortoise was built to shine in the dark.
The stark contrast between the turquoise light and the sliver light rippling across the structure makes it look as if the creature were swimming in the depths of the ocean.
Wooden Structure
It's pretty clear by now that most artworks featured in Burning Man are far from normal. This giant wooden structure resembles a tree, but what is it really? Impossible to tell.
The structure is meant to bring people together. In fact, the picture shows a group of strangers sitting and relaxing while contemplating the dazzling lights hanging from the rooftop. This picture really captures the festival's spirit.
Rango
Burning Man is the perfect festival for animal lovers. Not only will you appreciate the desert's unique wildlife, but you'll also be able to pose with countless animal sculptures, most of which are made with extremely unconventional materials.
This chameleon sculpture looks impressive enough in broad daylight, but its main purpose is for it to shine in the darkness. In fact, it's made of hundreds of LED lights that change color according to how people interact inside the structure.