Sphinx Gate
Recognition
2026 Psychedelics Design Winner
Best in Class Architectural & Space
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Credits
Title: The Sphinx Gate - An Immersive Rite of Passage
Company: Sphinx Gate
Entrant: Mareesa Stertz
Design Team: Mareesa Stertz, Tania Abdul, Jason Chase, Goose Manriquez
Description
The Sphinx Gate is a walk-through rite of passage set between two 44-foot sphinxes, first built for Burning Man in 2025. Participants name a thought that keeps them stuck, then cross four portals. In Mind, they name the thought. In Body, they shake, stomp or dance it out. In Heart, they turn toward it with kindness. In Story, they claim a new one. Afterwards, each person writes their riddle on a tag and weaves it into a shared net for the next visitors to read. The project was founded in 2019 and funded by its community, and around ten thousand people have crossed so far. Smaller travelling Sphinx Portals are in development for parks, town centres and festivals.
Mareesa Stertz guides Know Thyself, the project’s live immersive ritual. She discussed The Sphinx Gate with Jaime Derringer at the 2026 Psychedelics Design conference.
Their website doesn’t name the people who designed or built the sphinxes. Because this is the Architecture and Space award, ask Mareesa who should be credited as designers and builders, and whether she’d like to be listed as founder or creator rather than only as ritual guide.
Sources: The Sphinx Gate
