Detour Art
A curated guide to Artist-built Environments
region by region, coast-to-coast.
Dedicated to the sheer joy of outsider, folk, visionary, self-taught, vernacular art and environment discoveries found all along the back roads (and side streets).
Artist-built Environments in the United States
Note: Things change, so check first before arriving. When visiting art environments, remember they are usually on private property, so please be respectful and don’t trespass.
“PECULIAR TRAVEL SUGGESTIONS ARE DANCING LESSONS FROM GOD.”
— Kurt Vonnegut
Road stories
Canos Castle - Dominic "Cano" Espinosa
Entirely made of recycled materials, with more than 100,000 beer and soda cans, hubcaps, screen doors, wooden windows, bicycle reflectors and more, this amazing folk art environment was built by Dominic "Cano" Espinosa, a Native American Vietnam vet. Inspired by "Vitamin Mary Jane" and Jesus, Espinoza has spent over 30 years working on his creation.
Tile House + Tree of Life - Beverley Magennis
The Tile House is considered an Albuquerque landmark. All original mosaic art work that covers the home was completed by ceramic artist Beverley Magennis. She tiled the interiors and exteriors of homes, including her own, with tiles, pennies, and mosaics. Beginning in 1984 with a mosaic border around the doorway, eleven years later the house was covered inside and out.
Bishop's Castle - Jim Bishop
Soaring towards the clouds for some 16 stories in all, it's made from stone; hand selected, hand carried, hand lifted and mortared into place by, you guessed it, hand. Jim Bishop's hands. He's been working the site for nearly 50 years now
