The Desert in Transition
Bernard Hoyes
On view April 27 – July 26, 2026
The Desert in Transition is a powerful exhibition of watercolor landscapes by Bernard Hoyes. Rooted in decades of experience in Southern California’s deserts, Hoyes’ work invites visitors to see the landscape not only as a place, but as a living, evolving presence.
About the Artist
Bernard Hoyes is a painter and printmaker whose career spans more than five decades. Born in Jamaica, his work is deeply informed by Caribbean cultural traditions, spirituality and landscapes, while also reflecting his long-standing connection to Southern California.
Hoyes studied at the California College of the Arts and the Art Students League of New York, building a foundation that blends formal training with intuitive, expressive practice. Over the course of his career, he has exhibited widely across the United States, Europe and the Caribbean, with work shown in institutions such as the California African American Museum and the Palm Springs Art Museum.
His artistic practice explores themes of spirituality, identity, community and humanity’s relationship to the land. Whether through painting, printmaking or large-scale installations, Hoyes approaches his work as both a personal expression and a broader cultural dialogue.
In The Desert in Transition, these ideas come into focus through the desert landscape—where observation, memory and meaning converge, and where the artist acts as a conduit for the stories the land continues to tell.
About the Exhibition
The Desert in Transition presents intuitive watercolor paintings that reflect the spirituality and beauty found within the life and landscape of the desert. Working in large-scale compositions, Hoyes uses water-based pigments to create expressive, layered images that capture both the visible environment and the energy that exists beneath its surface.
Over more than 25 years, he has developed a deeply personal relationship with the desert landscape, translating observation into works that feel both immediate and meditative. His paintings move beyond representation, acting as a kind of invocation—guiding viewers into a space of reflection, awareness and connection.
At the heart of the exhibition is an exploration of change. These works respond to the shifting conditions of the environment, addressing the fragility of the desert and the broader realities of change in climate. Through color, scale and form, Hoyes creates a visual language that speaks for the land itself—prompting dialogue about our relationship to the natural world and the impact of human activity.
Rather than offering answers, the exhibition encourages attentiveness. It asks visitors to look closely, to consider what is being transformed, and to reflect on their role as stewards of the land.
Plan Your Visit
The Desert in Transition, featuring work by Bernard Hoyes, will be on view from April 27 to June 28 at the Victor Valley Museum. Admission is included with general admission, and museum members receive free entry.
Visitors are invited to experience the exhibition at their own pace and take time to reflect on the beauty, complexity and ongoing transformation of the desert landscape.