In the winter season, Arizona comes to life all across the state. It’s that time of year when the blistering heat finally cools down, the air is light and cities are abuzz with holiday cheer. Always a part of that feeling of cheer are the robust art communities in the Valley and beyond—there’s the culturally vibrant Tucson down south, brilliant Old Town Scottsdale and bustling downtown Phoenix in the Valley, and lesser-known gems up north like Prescott, Jerome and Williams (the “gateway to the Grand Canyon”).
Downtown Phoenix dazzles at night. Photo by Nader Abushhab.
Saguaro National Park in Pima County, Arizona. Photo by Jacob Diehl. We’d also be remiss not to mention the gorgeous red rock canyons of Sedona, where numerous art galleries reside.
There is something magical about Arizona in the winter (and any time of year, really)—that juxtaposition between the sunny skies and desert wildlife alongside those crisp temperatures. The Sonoran Desert is also the only place in the world you’ll find the magnificent Saguaro cactus. In the following pages, we’ve highlighted several hotspots around the Grand Canyon State, organized by region. We’ll discuss art-based events and destinations, as well as other exciting attractions. And throughout the rest of this Art Lover’s Guide, collectors can learn about even more galleries, institutions and arts and culture events that call the beautiful state of Arizona home.
The Phoenix Art Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. +++
Verde Valley
Jerome
If your travels are taking you toward the more central/northern regions of the state, look to the Jerome Artists Cooperative Gallery located in the historic old Hotel Jerome, showcasing artwork by more than 30 local artists from the Verde Valley area. On the first Saturday of every month is the Jerome Art and Wine Walk, featuring artist studios, unique galleries, vintage clothing and jewelry shops, as well as numerous wine tasting rooms. The town's Chamber of Commerce regularly hosts public paint-out events like Art in the Park where artists create accompanied by live music. While exploring Jerome, you’ll also find wonderful local art from places like Made in Jerome Pottery, Pura Vida Gallery and many others. Jerome also takes part in Sedona’s Plein Air Festival in October.
Sedona
In the mid 1940s, surrealist artists and married couple Max Ernst and Dorothea Tanning moved from New York to Sedona, inspired by the high desert landscape. They also sought to paint and connect with everyone from local cowboys to visiting art world luminaries like Henri Cartier-Bresson. Sedona truly has a spellbinding quality to it, for artists and collectors alike.
The Sedona Arts Center in Sedona, Arizona.
A glimpse of downtown Sedona. Photo by taven diorio.For art lovers one of the first things you’ll notice—after the stunning red rock canyons and mountains—are all of the local galleries on nearly every corner. Check out the robust Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village or the Sedona Arts Center. The Sedona Gallery Association hosts 1st Friday in the Galleries, a monthly showcase highlighting artists, special exhibits and art events. Not to be missed is the annual Sedona Plein Air Festival in the fall, a weeklong celebration of gorgeous landscapes, plein air painting and workshops led by world-renowned artists.
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The Valley
Old Town Scottsdale
Old Town Scottsdale. Credit: City of Scottsdale.
Every art lover who’s ever visited Arizona knows that downtown Scottsdale (known colloquially as “Old Town”) is chock-full of phenomenal galleries of Western, Native American, contemporary art and more. Check out hotspots like Wilde Meyer Gallery, Bonner David Galleries, Erin Hanson Gallery, Mainview Gallery, T.H. Brennan, Altamira Fine Art and Legacy Gallery, to name just a few. All of these galleries are available to explore every Thursday evening during Scottsdale Gallery Association's Gold Palette ArtWalk. And every year, don’t miss the Celebration of Fine Art under the big white tents on Hayden Road, where 100 artists gather to create and showcase their work as part of one of the most unique fine art experiences in the country. This year’s celebration runs from January 13 to March 24. Scottsdale is also known for its boutique hotel scene—check out Hotel Valley Ho for a relaxing, luxurious and uniquely Southwest experience.
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The South
Tucson
If you’re headed south, check out the Tucson Museum of Art and Historic Block, or Tucson-based galleries like Eric Firestone Gallery, Madaras Gallery and Etherton Gallery, known for its vast collection of vintage and contemporary photography. Also be sure not to miss the richly vibrant Warehouse Arts District. Beyond the world of art, Tucson has a phenomenal food scene, influenced by the cuisine of its not-too-far-away neighbor, Mexico. Stop by Guadalajara Grill for some of the best homemade salsa in the state.
Sonoita Vineyards in Elgin, Arizona.Patagonia
Continuing further south is the lush valley of Patagonia, located in the valley of Sonoita Creek between the Santa Rita Mountains and the Patagonia Mountains. The town is vibrant with Native American and Mexican culture (it’s only 45 minutes from Nogales, Mexico). Art galleries, shops and restaurants feature work by local artists during the Patagonia Holiday Walking Tour in November. The Sonoita-Elgin area nearby has a number of superb wineries and vineyards including Autumn Sage Vineyards, Rune Wines, Dos Cabezas Wineworks and the Meading Room, to name just a few. For a serene outdoor experience, visit the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve, one of the richest riparian habitats in the region, located in a verdant floodplain valley between the Patagonia and Santa Rita Mountains of southeastern Arizona, within the watershed of Sonoita Creek.
Tubac
Head roughly west from Patagonia and you’ll hit the town of Tubac, which gained its reputation as an artist enclave way back in 1948 when landscape painter Dale Nichols established an art school near the historic landmark of an 18th-century Spanish presidio. Tubac is known for its small town arts scene and is home to a wide array of galleries, museums and boutique shops. Among these is Cobalt Fine Arts Gallery and the Tubac Center for the Arts, which supports local Southern Arizona artists. There’s also K Newby Gallery and Sculpture Garden, home to a gorgeous two-acre sculpture garden, as well as artwork by prestigious sculptors and painters like Alvin Gill-Tapia, Jim Eppler, Darcie Peet, Thomas deDecker, Margaretta Caesar and Josh Tobey.
Don’t miss the 65th annual Tubac Festival of the Arts, running February 7 to 11. The longest-running art festival in Southern Arizona, the event features over 200 artists situated throughout the historic village of Tubac, among the more than 125 art galleries.
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Bonus!
Arcosanti: An Experimental Town
Arcosanti in the Yavapai County High Desert. Photo by Taven Diorio.Located in Yavapai County’s high desert about 70 miles north of Phoenix is the experimental town of Arcosanti. The non-profit Cosanti Foundation began building Arcosanti in 1970 with the goal of creating a town more integrated with that of the natural world. “An ambitious project envisioned as an experiment in living frugally and with a limited environmental footprint, Arcosanti is an attempt at a prototype arcology, integrating the design of architecture with respect to ecology…The Cosanti Foundation operates Arcosanti as a counterpoint to mass consumerism, urban sprawl, unchecked consumption of natural resources, and social isolation,” the official Arcosanti website notes. “The iconic structures at Arcosanti are designed to be multi-use to extend their utility and usefulness in facilitating the many performances, workshops and cultural programming that happen year in and year out.” This wholly unique place is definitely one to experience.
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Celebration of Fine Art
18400 N. Hayden Road
(480) 443-7695
info@celebrateart.com
www.celebrateart.com
Celebration of Fine Art, Beacon, oil, 24 x 36", by Gregory Sievers.
Celebration of Fine Art, Clarity, watercolor, 24 x 24", by Heidi Rosner.Discover the wide variety of works of art in all styles and mediums at the 34th annual Celebration of Fine Art, running January 13 through March 24, 2024. Housed in the signature “big white tents” in the heart of Scottsdale, Arizona, on the southwest corner of Hayden Road and Loop 101, this extraordinary event brings together talented artists from around the globe, each with a unique vision and passion for their craft. The 10-week long show becomes the temporary home of nearly 100 artists in their working art studios. The Celebration of Fine Artis not merely an art show, it’s a rare opportunity to connect with artists on a profound level, to ask questions and to witness the magic of art-making unfold before your eyes. It provides an unmatched experience and opportunity to admire and acquire exceptional works of art.
Celebration of Fine Art, Reddy Or Not, scratchboard and India ink, 9 x 12", by Cathy Sheeter.The Celebration of Fine Art will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the duration of the event.+++
Altamira Fine Art
7038 E. Main Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 949-1256
az@altamiraart.com
www.altamiraart.com
A view of the gallery interior of Altamira Fine Art. 
Altamira Fine Art, Serenity, oil on canvas, 72 x 48", by Kenneth Peloke.
Altamira Fine Art, Censored Red Poppy No.6, oil on canvas, 36 x 30", by Ben Steele.
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Mainview Gallery
7120 E. Main Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 990-1515
www.mainviewgallery.com
The entrance of Mainview Gallery in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Mainview Gallery, Just when you thought it couldn’t get better, acrylic, 24 x 36", by Dale Terbush.Mainview Gallery features original paintings by Pino, Alan Wolton, Kent R. Wallis, Jd Challenger, Dale Terbush, Karen Noles, John D. Cogan, Lisa Danielle and Vidan and sculptures by Elie Hazak, Rodd Ambroson, James N. Muir, E.C. Wynne, Ed Copley, Dusty Kinman and Kunda Lucas-Hardy. These artists represent a mix of genres from landscape and figurative to still life and Western-themed work. Owner David Guglielmo, Arizona-born and raised, has been an art dealer and consultant in the Scottsdale area for almost 30 years and welcomes collectors to come visit the gallery.
Mainview Gallery, The Peacemaker, oil, 48 x 30", by Ed Copley.
This year, Mainview Gallery will have special Thursday Night Receptions with artists in attendance from 6 to 9 p.m. on January 11, February 1 and 29, April 11, June 6 and July 11.
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T.H. Brennen Fine Art
7150 E. Main Street
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 994-1355
www.thbrennenfineart.com
T.H. Brennen Fine Art, Purple Repose, oil on canvas, 33 x 37", by J Louis.
T.H. Brennen Fine Art, Condor Pass, oil on linen, 24 x 36", by Derek Harrison.
A view of T.H. Brennen Fine Art in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Celebrating figurative art, T.H. Brennen Fine Art holds the philosophy that the element of beauty is essential in art—beauty and a profound understanding that art cannot be accidental. Inside the walls of this gallery, collectors will find artwork that provokes thought, appreciation for the skill and talent of the individual, and most of all, an inspiring experience. T.H. Brennen Fine Art focuses on works that range from traditional impressionism, post-impressionism and living academic realists to the more contemporary and provocative.
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Wilde Meyer Gallery
4142 N. Marshall Way
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
(480) 945-2323
2890 E. Skyline Drive
Tucson, AZ 85718
(520) 615-5222
info@wildemeyer.com
www.wildemeyer.com
An indoor view of Wilde Meyer Gallery.
Wilde Meyer Gallery, The Days Roll By, mixed media on panel, 48 x 48", by Laura Donavan.
Wilde Meyer Gallery, Luna Moths, acrylic on canvas, 32 x 59", by Lydia Hesse.
Wilde Meyer Gallery in Scottsdale and Tucson have changing exhibits of original contemporary fine art with subject matter including abstracts, landscapes, figurative and contemporary Western art. A wide variety of mediums are shown at the gallery as well, including paintings, bronzes, sculpture, glass and more. The gallery has recently added Lydia Hesse to its gallery roster and continues to show work by many noteworthy artists like Sherri Belassen, Lawrence Lee, Connie R. Townsend and many others.
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20th Annual Arizona Fine Art EXPO
26540 N. Scottsdale Road
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
(480) 837-7163
www.arizonafineartexpo.com
Harold Blaylock, son of painter Ted Blaylock, talks with Arizona Fine Art EXPO guests in his father’s booth. Photo by Ark Photoworks.
Celebrating its 20th year, the Arizona Fine Art EXPO begins Friday, January 12 and runs through Sunday, March 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily under the “festive white tents” at 26540 N. Scottsdale Road, on the southwest corner of Scottsdale and Jomax Roads, next to MacDonald’s Ranch in North Scottsdale. Season passes cost $12; admission for seniors and military is $10; children under 12 are free. Parking is free.
Arizona Fine Art EXPO, Long Time Coming, pencil and black colored pencil, 8 x 10", by Monte M. Moore.
The popular event features more than 75 diverse fine artists in 124 patron-friendly working studios within a 44,000-square-foot space, where guests have a rare chance to meet the artists, see them in action and learn about their inspiration and techniques. The immersive event features a captivating array of artistic mediums, such as acrylics, oils, watercolors, ceramics and mixed media. Fine art varies from stunning landscapes to captivating abstracts, intricate pottery to awe-inspiring life-size sculptures.
Patrons can also stroll throughout a large sculpture garden, which includes a koi pond with waterfall surrounded by natural desert. —
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