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The art scene in Phoenix is constantly emerging thanks to the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the city, and with that comes new opportunities to see amazing art, festivals, and performances all over town. With Phoenix being such a large metroplex, many traveling art exhibits stop through town over the course of the year, and it can be difficult to stay up-to-date on what is happening during any given month! To make it easy, we’ve put together an overview of some of the best upcoming arts and cultural performances around town.
Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit
The Immersive Van Gogh Exhibition has been on tour around the United States this year, and the incredible exhibit has finally stopped in Phoenix! The Van Gogh Exhibition has been so popular, the exhibition’s stay in Phoenix has been extended to keep up with demand. The exhibition is way more interactive than your typical museum visit, which makes this a great date night activity, or a fun outing to plan with art-loving friends.
The Immersive Van Gogh exhibition will be on tour in Phoenix through the month of April, so there is plenty of time to pick a day you are available and plan an outing!
This immersive exhibit allows you to sit and watch a live action artistic display of Van Gogh’s art, in a multi-dimensional way with music that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into some of his most famous paintings. This exhibit was created by Massimilano Siccardi, and the Phoenix exhibit is located in Old Town Scottsdale. Tickets cost $40, and the exhibit is open most days of the week for both afternoon and evening showings.
Visit Roosevelt Row
Have you ever heard of this trendy art neighborhood? Roosevelt Row is a walkable arts district in downtown Phoenix that is home to many art galleries and shops. The Roosevelt Row Arts District also is known for having amazing murals painted by local artists, which are scattered throughout the colorful streets. This area is very walkable, which makes it fun to explore local art galleries, then stop at one of the restaurants in the area to enjoy a meal.
Roosevelt Row is home to an eclectic group of artists with many different styles and mediums featured in the area through public art, live music performances, and small businesses. There is an area called “Mural Alley” located behind The Churchill food court that features artwork from over 12 local artists.
Roosevelt Row is always a great place to visit for a cultural outing, but one of the best times to go is during downtown Phoenix’s First Friday event. First Friday is an art walk event that takes place on the first Friday of each month from 6 to 10 p.m. Guests can walk around and check out local vendors or take a self guided art walking tour through the area. It’s a weekend event all locals must participate in at least once, and a great way to spend a Friday night!
Catch a Show at the Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts
The Scottsdale Center for Performing Arts has a robust lineup of entertainment planned over the next few weeks! The performing arts center offers an eclectic mix of performances, with everything from classical musicians, to more experimental types of shows. On Sunday, February 20th at 4 pm, the ASU Faculty Chamber Music and ASU Wind Ensemble will be performing an afternoon concert filled with beautiful chamber wind music, including a performance of Milhaud’s Suite Francaise.
If classical music isn’t your style, check out The Choir of Men, on Sunday February 27th. It’s a comedic theater production that is said to be “a party and a concert” all rolled into one! It features pop music, classic rock, folk, and broadway tunes. There is a real working bar on stage, and guests can drink during the performance and join in on the action. The lineup of events is always changing, so keep checking the website to see what shows are new!
Native Art Market
Every weekend The Pavilions at Talking Stick hosts a Native Art Market, which is a cultural event where Native American artists from different tribes can come together to showcase their music, art, and more! This outdoor event is held seasonally on the weekends during the months where the weather is nice, and you can stop by anytime from 9 am to 3 pm to check it out. The Native Art Market is always changing depending on which artists are participating each weekend, but you can usually expect to have an opportunity to purchase art, food, and watch live dance performances.
Arabian Horse Show
The Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show kicks off this upcoming weekend at WestWorld! Did you know that this is the largest Arabian horse show in the world? It has taken place in Scottsdale since 1955, and what started out as a show with 50 Arabian horses has grown to be over 2200!
The horse show is taking place from February 17th- February 27th this year. Not only can you see the beautiful artistry of the Arabian horses competing for a chance to win in the show, but there are also lots of small vendors set up selling art and other Arabian horse merchandise during the event. For any equestrian fans or Old Western art enthusiasts, this is an incredible event to attend that is unique to the Valley.
Tour Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
Scottsdale Museum of the West is dedicated to preserving the culture and spirit of the American West, including the art, culture, and history of the area. This museum is relatively new and has only been open for the last six years, but it is worth a visit if you find yourself in the Old Town area looking to learn a little more about the area’s old Western flair. Currently the museum has an exhibit on tour called Light and Legacy, which is a collection of Edward S. Curtis’ photographs. This collection gives you an incredible opportunity to see historic photographs of the original Arizona landscape and indiginous people.
There is also currently an exhibit of Barry Goldwater’s photography, which includes his photos of the Grand Canyon. This is a great time of year to visit the Western Spirit museum while they have these two incredible visiting collections. Guests are encouraged to plan to stay at least two hours to see everything the museum offers. Tickets cost $20 a guest and the museum is open six days a week, every day besides Monday.
While Phoenix may not be known as the most artsy city in all of Arizona, being the largest city in the state has its perks in the art world! There is never a shortage of new and innovative art exhibits and shows to see, and with an ever changing variety of exhibits, there are endless options! Make sure to incorporate some of these ideas into your plans over the next few months!
