Scottsdale Art Galleries

Art lovers know that one of America’s great art hot spots is far away from the crush and hype of the coastal metropolises.

For generations artists have been drawn to the Sonoran desert for inspiration and solitude, and that long slow influx has resulted in a gallery community that’s recognized as one of the best in the country. Estimates place the number of Scottsdale galleries around 120, and the number of artists living in the area is simply uncountable. Scottsdale is the place to discover a new local name, or hunt down a prime piece of work by an established artist.

While you can find a gallery at nearly every turn in Scottdale, the Arts District is the hub of the fine arts community, hosting ArtWalks every Thursday evening throughout the year. Centered around Main Street and Marshall Way in downtown Scottsdale, the ArtWalks provide a relaxed, fun atmosphere in which to explore the amazing array of paintings, sculpture, fabric arts, glass arts, art furniture, photography, jewelry and more offered by Scottsdale’s premier fine arts galleries.

The city also hosts dozens of arts festivals and fairs throughout the year, including the enormous Scottsdale Celebration of Fine Art from January through March.

Scottsdale artists and galleries display a variety of styles.

Internationally known as a mecca for art collectors, Scottsdale is home to more than 100 galleries. The Scottsdale Gallery Association was formed by professional art dealers to promote these fine art galleries and their weekly ArtWalks.

Dedicated to exhibiting the finest visual art from all over the world, the galleries offer a dazzling and diverse array of work in a wide variety of media. SGA members strive to make art accessible to all, from the serious art collector to the casual art appreciator. By funding arts projects in local schools, the SGA has become an important partner in the education of our community’s youth.

The Heard Museum Collection in Scottsdale, Arizona

Spotlight: The Heard Museum

The Heard Museum was founded in 1929 by Dwight B. and Maie Bartlett Heard to house their personal collection of art. Currently its collection consists of over 35,000 items in over 130,000 square feet of gallery, classroom and performance space. Some of the signature exhibits include:

A full Navajo hogan.
Mareen Allen Nichols Collection containing 260 pieces of contemporary jewelry.
The Barry Goldwater Collection of 437 historic Hopi kachina dolls (see photo, above).
An exhibit on 19th century boarding school experiences of Native Americans.

Much of the archaeological material in the Heard's collection came from the La Ciudad Indian ruin, purchased by the Heards in 1926.

The Heard Museum hosts the annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest, typically held in early February, and it attracts about 250,000 visitors each year.

Native Americans have a long history of making beautiful pottery. In Arizona, it is possible to see Anasazi and Hohokam pots that are at least four hundred years old. The pots were created for daily use and for religious purposes.

Native American Pottery and Art in Scottsdale

Collectors and appreciators of Western, cowboy and Native American art will find a lot to love in Scottsdale.

Authentic historic and stunning contemporary work from Navajo, Hopi and Apache artists including painting, weaving, pottery and jewelry can be found in galleries throughout the city. Notable exhibitions this year include Trailside Galleries “Western Classics 2007” (March 18 – 31, 2007) which features new works of traditional western painting and sculpture by 30 of the country’s foremost western representational artists, and the River Trading Post’s annual Arts of Native America Show and Sale March 1 – 3.

Don’t forget the Heard Museum, a wonderful place to start your exploration of native art, with a permanent collection of roughly 39,000 works of art and artifacts.

The Southwest presents wonderful opportunities for fine art photography. Photographers interested in nature and outdoor photography in can find out how to participate in Arizona Highways Photo Workshops.
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