10 Cool Photography Exhibitions to See in Metro Phoenix

Even as digital devices have made photographers of us all, a select few continue to excel in the sort of fine art photography that's best appreciated by seeing the depth and breadth of its offerings — which capture, cajole, and create the many worlds we live in. If taking in a broader range of visual delights is on your bucket list, these 10 photography exhibitions offer cool places to get started.

"One-of-a-Kind"
Phoenix Art Museum
Through October 18

The exhibition features unique photographic objects from the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson. Taken together these works represent the entire history of the photographic medium from the 1840s through today. The exhibition includes works by local photographers including David Emitt Adams, as well as photographers famous on the world stage such as Andy Warhol. Find more information on the Phoenix Art Museum website.

"Depth of Field"
Art Intersection
Through October 24

This exhibition features photographs previously shared online via Rfotofolio, which “supports the work of artists who are struggling to make a living through photography or who are using photography for the social good.” It includes works by both emerging and established photographers who use diverse photographic techniques. Find more information on the Art Intersection website.

"A Thing or Two I Know About the Wild West"
Tilt Gallery
Through October 30

This exhibition features works by Jim Morris that were shot as transparencies and replicated on traditional archival photochemical papers. The series includes images of what Morris calls “little zones” he finds intriguing. Morris will be at Tilt Gallery on October 15 to talk with gallery-goers and share a limited release of his book titled A thing or two I know about the Wild West (each with a small bonus image). Find more information on the Tilt Gallery website.

"Loss and Beauty"
Gallery 4
Through October 31

This exhibition features photographs of significant sites during the Holocaust, taken by photographer Keron Psillas to prompt reflection on the nature of personal journeys of that time. Many are accompanied by her words describing the places she photographed or her poetry inspired by the experience of traveling through this landscape. Find more information on the Gallery 4 website.

"Vignettes"
Lisa Sette Gallery
Through October 31

This exhibition features works by Damion Berger, Binh Danh, Angela Ellsworth, Maximo Gonzalez, Alan Bur Johnson, Yao Lu, Mark Klett, Matthew Moore, Luis Gonzalez Palma, Reynier Leyva Novo, Charlotte Potter, Gregory Scott, and James Turrell — which reflect the diverse nature of contemporary fine art photography. Many demonstrate the intersection of the deeply personal with the profoundly political. Find more information on the Lisa Sette Gallery website.

"Existe lo que tiene nombre"
ASU Art Museum
Through January 9, 2016

This exhibition features more than 50 photographic and video works created within the past decade by 23 artists — which taken together characterize the current state of contemporary photography in Mexico. The exhibition is curated by Sergio De La Torre of San Francisco and Javier Ramirez Limón of Tijuana; its presentation at the ASU Art Museum is managed by museum curator Julio Cesar Morales. Find more information on the ASU Art Museum website.

"Yonder Peasant"
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum
Through January 17, 2016

This exhibition features works by Mesa-born Pedro E. Guerrero, whose life and work during the 20th century is featured in a documentary film recently broadcast on PBS. Guerrero specialized in artist photographs and architectural photographs — and this exhibition includes his photographs of Alexander Calder, Louise Nevelson, and Frank Lloyd Wright. Find more information on the Mesa Arts Center website.

"Beyond Blue"
Desert Botanical Garden
October 16, 2015 to January 10, 2016

This exhibition features primarily cyanotype photographs of animals and objects by Laszlo Layton, which have a characteristic cyan-blue color. Each photograph is hand painted. Layton’s work is part of the collections of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the International Wildlife Museum of Tucson. Find more information on the Desert Botanical Garden website.

"Sweet is the Swamp"
Northlight Gallery
October 30 to November 21

This exhibition features photographs by Betsy Schneider, who engages viewers in a narrative of childhood that reflects both playful discovery and darker human traits — while exploring issues such as media culture, family, feminine and masculine roles, and the concepts of public and private space. This is the largest solo exhibition of Schneider’s work since she was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship in 2011. The opening reception takes place October 30 from 6 to 9 p.m., and the artist will give a gallery talk that evening at 7. Find more information on the ASU School of Art website.

"Frida Kahlo: Her Photos"
Heard Museum
October 31, 2015 to February 8, 2016

This exhibition features 241 photographs from a collection of 6,500 that are part of an archive at Casa Azul (the Blue House), where Kahlo lived in Mexico. Taken by Man Ray, Tina Modotti, Edward Weston, Nickolas Muray, Lola Alvarez Bravo, and others, the photographs offer a glimpse into Kahlo’s interior and exterior worlds. Curated by Mexican photographer and photography historian Pablo Ortiz Monasterio, the exhibition is divided into six subject areas that help to provide historical and cultural context for Kahlo’s work. Find more information on the Heard Museum website.