Several Phoenix artists make small-scale paintings, sculptures, and functional objects, knowing that gift-buyers are always on the hunt for unique and affordable items. And they're sold in all sorts of settings, from festivals to art shows.
Museums and galleries have been gearing, up as well. They’ve stocked up on popular gift items including books, home décor, jewelry, and kitchen wares. In many cases, you don’t need to pay museum admission to explore museum shop offerings. And museums are finding some creative ways for sharing items – including pop-up shops.
Even individual artists are taking steps to make shopping for art more convenient this time of year – from creating user-friendly websites for easy online shopping to gathering fellow artists for studio sales. Some have artist catalogues that make lovely gifts, too.
If you’re shopping on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, or Giving Tuesday, we recommend starting with local art venues and independently owned businesses that sell work by Arizona-based artisans.
And remember that you can always find works of art for sale during First and Third Friday art walks. In December, those happen on December 1 and 15. You’ll find small works exhibited by Five15 Arts at Phoenix Center for the Arts, and small works by dozens of artists at {9} The Gallery.
We’ve put together a holiday shopping guide for art lovers, with plenty of places to work through your shopping list while supporting arts and culture.
Black Friday Events
Alternative Black Friday Vintage Market
Friday, November 24
CityScape
Phoenix General curates a shopping experience that includes more than 20 vendors, live music, festive drinks, and a souvenir tote. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Vintage vendors include Antique Sugar, Rare Scarf, and Retro Ranch, to name a few. The handmade lineup includes Gypsy Bound, Pure Life, and Tom Budzak Ceramics, among others. Learn more on the Facebook event page.
Black Friday Sale
Friday, November 24
Phoenix Art Museum
Phoenix Art Museum is offering 10 percent off in its Museum Store, which sells a wide assortment of art- and design-related objects, ranging from fashion accessories to home and office wares. You can also save $20 on museum memberships on Black Friday. (Museum members get an additional 10 percent savings in the store.) Get details on the Phoenix Art Museum website.
Holiday Shopping Events
Ornament Marketplace
Friday, November 24, to Sunday, November 26
Heard Museum
The Heard Museum presents a holiday sale with hundreds of ornaments created by American Indian artists. Featured artist Alvin Thompson (Navajo) created the signature ornament for this year’s marketplace. Event hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The Heard Museum Shop also carries rugs, baskets, and jewelry, and is open during museum hours. The museum has a second shop called Books & More. Learn more on the Heard Museum website.
Holiday Extravaganza
Friday, December 1
Practical Art
Practical Art, which sells functional and decorative works created by more than 100 Arizona artists, is hosting a holiday event that includes making your own ugly sweaters with Jordan Thomas, holiday refreshments, a photo booth, and the opening for a new exhibition of art by Jake Early. The event runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Find more information on the Practical Art website.
A previous Crafeteria event at Frances.
Frances
Friday, December 1
Frances
Frances presents an evening of live music, food, and handmade goods by more than 40 Arizona creatives. Event hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Get details on the Frances website.
Market at MADE
Friday, December 15
MADE Art Boutique
MADE Art Boutique presents an evening of live music and art made by Arizona creatives. The event takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. You can also holiday shop at MADE during regular business hours, which are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Find more information on the Facebook event page.
Museum Stores
ASU Art Museum
Save 20 percent at the ASU Art Museum and ASU Art Museum Ceramics Research Center during its holiday sale, which runs from Saturday, November 25, to Saturday, December 9. Shopping hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Featured items at the ASU Art Museum include artwork, books, jewelry, accessories, children’s gifts, and home decor. CRC offerings include primarily ceramics made by Valley artists, including Farraday Newsome, Jane Kelsey-Mapel, and Les Lawrence, and to name a few. Get details on the event Facebook page.
Heard Museum
The Heard Museum Shop is having a sale from Monday, December 11 to Sunday, December 17. Members save 20 percent, and others save 10 percent both in-store and online. Learn more on the Heard Museum website.
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum
The MCA Museum, which is located on the Mesa Arts Center campus, recently released its 2018 calendar featuring original prints that were curated by Jean Makin, former curator of prints for ASU Art Museum. You can purchase a calendar online or at the museum welcome desk. Find more information on the museum website.
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
The Shop at SMoCA has a special section called Arizona by Design, which features works by Arizona artists. Members always save 10 percent in The Shop. The museum is participating in Museum Store Sunday on November 26, when more than 400 members of the Museum Store Association will offer special holiday deals. Hours that day are noon to 5 p.m. and there’s a free docent-guided museum tour at 12:30 p.m. Specials include 20 percent off holiday cards, and up to 20 percent savings when you mention Museum Store Sunday at checkout. Learn more on the museum website.
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
Western Spirit is participating in Museum Store Sunday on November 26, when more than 400 members of the Museum Store Association will offer special holiday deals. Shoppers can save 30 percent on inlaid jewelry and accessories by Scottsdale jewelry designer Kelly Charveaux, as well as America West women’s leather handbags. Museum members save up to 15 percent on store purchases, and other specials will also be available that day. Event hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Get details on the museum website.
Performing Arts Center Stores
Mesa Arts Center
The Store at Mesa Arts Center is an artist cooperative that sells works by Arizona artists working in various media, including ceramics, glass, photography, and painting, to name a few. Twenty percent of sales go toward the center’s engagement programs. Mesa Arts Center members save 10 percent in The Store. Mesa Arts Center also sells gift cards, which can be used to purchase performance tickets, take art classes, or shop in The Store. On Friday, November 24, Mesa Arts Center is having a Black Friday sale, offering a limited number of $24 tickets to select performances. Find more information on the Mesa Arts Center website.
Entrance to The Store at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts
The Store at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts is holding an artisan market on Small Business Saturday, November 25. It’s a chance to meet local artisans, enjoy savings that include 20 percent off holiday cards, and linger at the Encore Bar. The artisan market takes place from 3 to 9 p.m. The Store also has regular hours, and it's presenting two trunk shows this holiday season. The Sandy Schenkat Jewelry trunk show happens on Friday, November 24, from 7 to 10 p.m. The Janel Nordstrom Jewelry trunk show takes place from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 26. Learn more on the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts website.
Sampling of items spotted during a previous visit to The Store at Tempe Center for the Arts.
Lynn Trimble
The Store at Tempe Center for the Arts carries works by Valley artists, including paintings, jewelry, cards, home accessories, and wearable art. And the center is having a flash sale with 50 percent off tickets to select performances. The flash sale runs from Friday, November 24, to Monday, November 27. Get details on the Tempe Center for the Arts website.
Jewelry by Phoenix artist Patricia Sannit, who is holding a holiday studio sale with multiple artists.
Patricia Sannit
Art and Objects Studio Sale
Sunday, December 3
Patricia Sannit Studio
Phoenix artist Patricia Sannit, who received the prestigious Contemporary Forum Artist Award at Phoenix Art Museum in 2016, is hosting more than a dozen artists working in diverse media at her Phoenix studio, located at 2631 East Cortez Street. Participating artists include Tiffany Bailey, Christopher Jagmin, Elliott Kayser, Christy Puetz, and Sherrie Zeitlin. The event, which runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., also features henna art by Jennifer Lind. Get details on the artist’s website.
See works by Sandy Blain during the Holiday Art Sale at Dora Hernandez Studio.
Sandy Blain/Photo by Lynn Trimble
Sunday, December 10
Dora Hernandez Studio
Dora Hernandez invited more than a dozen fellow artists to join her for a studio sale that runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1004 West Palo Verde Drive. Participating artists include Sandy Blain, Esmeralda DeLaney, Patrick Green, Sandra Luehrsen, and James Schwarz. Learn more on the artist’s Facebook page.
Art Center Gift Shops
Shemer Art Center
Shemer Art Center carries greeting cards, ornaments, jewelry, and works of art by more than 50 Arizona artists including Joan Baron, Lexi Bowers, Kevin Caron, Jeff Reich, and Michelle Startzman. Members get 10 percent savings. Gift shop hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday. Get details on the art center website.
Vision Gallery
Vision Gallery in Chandler sells jewelry, functional objects, and other works by Valley artists working in several media. Weekday hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. During December, the gallery will be open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more on the gallery website.
Pop-up Shops
PhxArt Project: CityScape
November 24 to January 7
CityScape
Phoenix Art Museum is taking over a retail space at CityScape, where it will present a pop-up shop and a Cacerolazo art installation by Scottsdale artist Saskia Jorda – in addition to live performances and hands-on activities including Cut + Paste PHX during select days/hours. Participating artists include Datura, Liliana Gomez, and SentiDos Dance, to name a few.
The space is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, November 24, and 3 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, November 25, and Sunday, November 26. Hours vary from Monday, November 27, to Sunday, January 7. The space will be closed December 24, 25, and 31, as well as January 1, 2018. Find more information on the Phoenix Art Museum website.
Phoenix Fridas Holiday Pop-up Shop
Friday, December 1, and Saturday, December 2
Mucho Mas
The Phoenix Fridas, a collective of Latina artists inspired by Frida Kahlo, is holding a holiday pop-up shop and ornament party at the Mucho Mas studio operated by Crafty Chica Kathy Cano-Murillo, Emily Costello, and Patrick Murillo. Collective members include Carmen de Novais-Guerrero, Annalisa Rios, and Monica Gisel, to name a few. Friday hours are 6 to 9 p.m. and Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Find details on the studio Facebook page.
Example of vernacular photography featured in an upcoming exhibition and holiday sale at Fine Art Framing.
Courtesy of Fine Art Framing
Saturday, December 2
Fine Art Framing
This ninth annual sale of vintage snapshots and postcards happens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fine Art Framing, located at 2010 East University Drive, #11, in Tempe. The free event is a chance to find quirky, framed photographs with prices that start at around $75. Learn more on the Fine Art Framing website.
Timothy Chapman is one of several Arizona artists participating in this fall's Tempe Festival of the Arts.
Timothy Chapman/Wilde Meyer Gallery
Tempe Festival of the Arts
Friday, December 1, to Sunday, December 3
Mill Avenue in Downtown Tempe
Artists will show and sell paintings, sculptures, photography, jewelry, and other work during this fall's Tempe Festival of the Arts, a free event that takes place from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day. Participating Arizona artists include Timothy Chapman, Aileen Frick, and Melody Smith, to name a few. Get details on the festival website.
Phoenix Festival of the Arts
Friday, December 8 to Sunday, December 10
Hance Park
Dozens of artists will be showing and selling work in media ranging from glass to wood during the Phoenix Festival of the Arts. Participating artists include Char Applen, Stephen Bunyard, Ingrid Donaldson, and Damian Jim, to name a few. Friday hours are noon to 5 p.m. Weekend hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more on the Phoenix Center for the Arts website.
Mesa Arts Festival
Saturday, December 9, and Sunday, December 10
Mesa Arts Center
Artists working in several media are participating in the Mesa Arts Festival, which takes place on the Mesa Arts Center campus, where you can also explore several exhibitions inside Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum and shop at the store operated by an artist collective. Hours both days are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Get additional information on the Mesa Arts Center website.
More Places to Shop Art
Xico Arte y Cultura
The nonprofit arts organization, which was founded many years ago to showcase works by Chicano and indigenous artists, offers prints, functional objects, and other works by local artists, including Cristina Cárdenas and Dora Hernandez. Holiday hours at Xico are 9 a.m. to noon on Monday through Thursday. Learn more on the gallery website.
Online Shopping
Christine Cassano Studio
Phoenix artist Christine Cassano, whose work has been exhibited at Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum and Phoenix Art Museum, has a large assortment of jewelry and sculpture available on her artist website.
One of several artist catalogs you can order online from Phoenix Institute of Contemporary Art.
Christine Cassano
Phoenix Institute of Contemporary Art currently has artist catalogs for Christine Cassano, Sue Chenoweth, Chris Jagmin, Carolyn Lavender, Patricia Sannit, and Lauren Strohacker on its website. Prices range from $10 to $30. Get details on the phICA website.
