Prada Marfa
Valentine, Texas
West Texas is a land like none other in the world, with an openness that you didn’t even realize you were craving. Miles and miles can go without seeing another car on foreverlong highways with stunning desert and mountain views. So a luxury leather Prada storefront out in the middle of nowhere was the perfect place for an art installation. While the name is Prada Marfa, it’s only 1.5 miles from Valentine, Texas and 36 miles to the nearest touristy town of Marfa.
Prada Marfa is a world-famous art installation built in 2005 by two Scandinavian artists, Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset. The land was donated by a local rancher, and funded by two art organizations, Art Production Fund and Ballroom Marfa. This 15 ft wide adobe brick building was constructed, and Miuccia Prada donated luxury leather goods from her winter 2005 collection.
Header image “Prada Marfa TX” by Mobilus In Mobili is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
“Prada Marfa” by MarieEly is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Prada Marfa’s unshoppable art installation was built prior to social media, so its success was not expected to be known globally. Throughout the past 16 years, it has been vandalized, spray painted, and the leather goods stolen, however it has always rebounded with fresh paint and stronger plexiglass. Behind the Prada Marfa, visitors have left love locks on the chain link fence and stones around the adobe building.
“Love locks behind Prada Marfa” by dave_hensley is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Some love it for it’s quirky you-don’t-belong-here presence, and others hate it as an eyesore to the West Texas landscape. If you are driving by on your way to Marfa, you might as well stop for a few minutes and grab a photo to mark off your checklist for something you will find only in Texas.
Special needs:
Just off the highway, the ground is gravel but is suitable for wheelchairs.
Know before you go:
There are no restrooms or stores nearby, so plan your snacks, bathroom breaks and fuel stations accordingly.
Bring a lock if you want to leave one on the fence.
Free with no restrictions on hours.
Prada Marfa
14880 US-90
Valentine, TX 79854
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