News
Awarded Best Sculpture Park in the Readers’ Choice USA Today
Awarded Best Sculpture Park in the Readers’ Choice USA Today 10Best Sculpture Park 2026 Competition Thank you to everyone who supported us. We will continue to cherish our wonderful and unique museum. February 2026
Not sure if you heard, but there’s a Super-bloom
So here’s how to see it, and be warned, you don’t have much time left. Come to the museum first and check out our wonderful collection. When leaving Goldwell turn right and head into Death Valley on the 374. Take the 190 towards Beatty Junction and follow the road to Furnace Creek. There are several sites to see beautiful yellow and purple blooms, and you’ll also enjoy spectacular views of Badwater Basin. You can be back in Vegas in time for dinner and a show! March 2026
Work begins on the new Bottle Couch
Work begins on the installation of the museum’s new ‘Bottle’ couch. The new couch takes its inspiration from Tom Kelly’s Bottle House at Rhyolite. The new couch will replace the much loved mosaic couch that was eventually destroyed by the harsh desert weather. We had to remove the mosaic couch because it was so broken down it was impossible to sit on. We are so looking forward to its replacement hopefully arriving in May. March 2026
Museum Grounds and Environment Survey
A survey of the museums grounds has been undertaken to help build the Museum’s Master Conservation plan. Everything is being considered from the rain water run off from the surrounding mountains to the soil composition and prevailing wind direction. As part of the survey all artworks will also be inspected. We are looking at the best and most sympathetic way to protect the sculptures going forward, it’s exciting but also difficult work. February 2026
Casual Mixer at the Sourdough Salon
Board members joined fans to reminisce and talk about the future of Goldwell Open Air Museum. The Sourdough was a hangout not just for our founding artist but for his friends including Fred Bervoets. 27th February 2026
Dark Skies at Goldwell
It’s dark and even with the distant glow of Las Vegas visible over Big Dune the night sky is incredible and so dark. It takes around 40 minutes for your eyes to adjust so take your time and enjoy the view from our museum. February 2026
New Spring Walking Tour dates now available
Walking Tour dates are now available to book through May 2026. January 2026
Zak Bagans returns to Goldwell
Zak has a special connection to our museum, it’s our Last Supper Sculpture. Patrick Taylor our resident artist and Board member made a big impression on Zak with his drawings. January 2026
Need Museum Brochures, we have them for you!
We are distributing our museum leaflets to local and not so local businesses and attractions, if you would like some for your establishment please get in touch. goldwell@goldwellmuseum.org. January 2026
Goldwell attends GovCon 2025
Along with many other organizations and non-profits who depend on tourists as well as local visitors Goldwell attended the conference for the first time in 2025. We gleaned some very useful trend and visitor data and it was a great opportunity to connect with international travel agents too. It was an invaluable experience. December 2025.
Mr Camera arrived before Sunrise
Mr Camera, one of, if not the best, video and film company in Las Vegas arrived before Sunrise to set up their equipment to film Goldwell in all its glory. Every sculpture, scene, and even a guided walk was captured resulting in a huge amount of amazing footage. The footage will be used to create museum promos and eventually short-form documentaries telling the museum’s story. The crew were amazing and deserve a huge amount thanks as well as a heap of delicious food and beers.
Recording a legend!
Our oral history project has begun to capture the words of Richard Stephens who has been involved with the museum since it began back in the 1980s. Richard holds so many fascinating stories and has directly interacted with all of the artists at Goldwell through the years. December 2025
Goldwell joins in the fun at Beatty Days
Lots of fun and connections made at Beatty Days 2025. We met some of the people who knew Albert and Fred and actually posed for the Last Supper Sculpture. We also had a huge amount of fun getting one of our board members ‘arrested’ for charity :^) We have’’t laughed that much for ages. Don’t miss Beatty Days 2026! October 2025
Volunteers needed
We are always looking for help so if you are interested in helping at the museum’s visitors center, or you just love hanging out with artists and talking about art and history, drop us an email. goldwell@goldwellmuseum.org. October 2025
Celebrating the work of Antwane Lee
On the 31st October Goldwell staged an interpretation of the ceremony devised by the artist Antwane Lee. It was an incredible experience to see the sun held in the ‘bowl’ of the totem. October 2025
Access Road Improvements
Rhyolite road has been resurfaced making it a smother ride to the museum. September 2025
Goldwell announces new Winter/Spring monthly walking tours
Guided Walking tours will run every year between October and May. The One hour tours will cover the founding artists, the regions history and conservation, and lots of fun facts. Tours starts at $15 August 2025
Goldwell Board member Richard Stephens retires
Long time Board Member Richard Stephens steps down from the Board to join the advisory Board. Richard has been with the museum since its beginning in the 1980s. He spent time with Albert Szukalski and many, if not all, the artists who have sculptures at the museum. His knowledge and good humor will be greatly missed, he will however be at the Visitors center two days a week. August 2025
Goldwell President visits Antwerp
Michelle Graves traveled to Antwerp and was treated to a visit and conversation at the De Zwarte Panter (Black Panther) with Adriaan Raemdonck the agent for our four Belgian artists. July 2025
Travel Nevada Rural Marketing Grant brings new signage to the museum
New roadside signage has been installed with more to come thanks to a successful Travel Nevada grant application. July 2025
Visitors Center open 6 Days a week
Our visitors center is now open 6 days a week, generally between 10am and 4pm. We have artwork, souvenirs, postcards and many photographs of the artists as well as Rhyolite ghost town. Come on in and treat yourself to a T-shirt. June 2025
Goldwell goes to Basin to Range Exchange in Ely
Two Board member made the trip to Ely and valued every minute of the program. The Nevada Basin to Range Exchange (BRX) is a professional development and networking opportunity designed to facilitate collaboration between rural and metropolitan communities in the state. May 2025
Successful Nevada Arts Council Grant Award
This successful grant application to the NAC will ensure the much loved mosaic couch will be replaced. The plan is to design a new couch taking inspiration from Tom Kelly’s Bottle House. March 2025
Suzanne Hackett-Morgan and Charles Morgan retire after 40 years
There would be no Goldwell without Suzanne Hackett-Morgan and Charles Morgan, they have worked tirelessly for over 40 years to preserve the work of our founding sculpture Albert Szukalski and all our other artists. It takes people like Suzanne and Charles who possess perseverance, courage, and the will that doesn’t take no for an answer to create something special, and for that we are totally grateful Thank you! January 2025
Dry Heat - The Goldwell Issue
If you haven't heard, UNLV Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art recently released their latest Dry Heat publication entirely about Goldwell to celebrate our 40th year anniversary and our continued contributions to the ongoing tradition of creating art in the Mojave desert.
https://issuu.com/unlvmuseum/docs/dryheat_issue005 December 2024
Goldwell Open Air Museum celebrates 40 years of art and desert magic
October 24, 2024 | Las Vegas Weekly
40 years on, Goldwell Open Air Museum remains a weird, wonderful Nevada art hub
October 18, 2024 | KNPR Nevada. (other KNPR Goldwell articles 2004 - 2024)
Goldwell Open Air Museum anniversary offering a weekend full of activities
October 11, 2024 | Pahrump Valley Times
October 18-20: Goldwell Open Air Museum's 40th Anniversary Celebration
October 9, 2024 | Vegas PBS
My Path Did Not Just Cross Goldwell Open Air Museum
September 19, 2024 | Nevada Humanities
In these tough times, new art piece a reminder to ‘Keep Going’
October 26, 2023 | Pahrump Valley Times
The artists of Goldwell Open Air Museum present a quirky, beautiful group show at Core Contemporary
May 13, 2021 | Las Vegas Weekly
Goldwell Open Air Museum to open printing studio Downtown.
June 14, 2012 | Las Vegas Review-Journal
At the Red Barn, friends paint the desert side by side
October 28, 2011 | Pahrump Valley Times
Sculptor Creates Moving Experience Near Nevada Ghost Town
June 19, 2011 | Las Vegas Review-Journal
Artist showcases talents, shares experience with local students
February 8, 2011 | Pahrump Valley Times *
Noise Installation Highlights Preview Thursday
July 9, 2010 | Las Vegas Sun
Ice Cream Technology: Got Yours?
July 3, 2009 | Pahrump Valley Times *
Desert Is Their Muse
June 7 , 2009 | Las Vegas Sun
[On the scene] Ghost town art: A spooky, avant-garde evening in Rhyolite
February 21, 2008 | Las Vegas Weekly