15 Art Shows to See in Downtown Phoenix This Week

Before you bolt out the door for First Friday this month, take a few minutes to consider how many venues are showing art on August 4. In the central corridor alone, you can see fresh art shows at two museums, a boutique hotel, a retail space carrying work by more than 100 Arizona artists, a former TV studio, and a fashion boutique. But there's also plenty to see in other parts of Phoenix. So we've put together a guide organized by art districts and neighborhoods. Here's a look at more than a dozen new art shows, plus an exhibit opening on Thursday, August 3.

Roosevelt Row
“Actual Source: Call Now”
See work created by the collaborative art and design practice of Davis Ngarupe and JP Haynie, whose exhibition at the ASU Art Museum’s Project Space explores self-promotion, post-irony, and industry faux pas. First Friday hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Get more information on the ASU Events website.

"Sonoran Shades"
Explore desert-inspired works by artist Robert P. Meyer at the Herberger Theater Center art gallery. The opening reception for his solo exhibition happens from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on First Friday. Learn more on the Herberger Theater Center website.

“How I Spent My Summer Vacation”
Visit MADE Art Boutique, where the Mantle at MADE features a group show with artists that include Baldwin “Bud” Sagdalen, Gary Sweeney, Harry Lyrico, Wallene Esser, Greg Esser, and Nancy Hildebrandt. First Friday hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Get details on the MADE Art Boutique website.

Sabrina Michelle Reed
Check out work by Sabrina Michelle Reed, who uses geometrics and vibrant colors to put a fresh spin on faces and places. Her work is hanging at Songbird Tea & Coffee House, where First Friday hours are 7 to 10 p.m. Get details on the Songbird Coffee & Tea House Facebook page.

Grand Avenue
“The Mystery of the Visible”
See photographs by Joseph Podlesnik, whose work explores the interface of interior space and the external world, at Abe Zucca Gallery. His work is designed to prompt viewers to question perspectives, while collapsing the gap between artist and viewer. First Friday hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Get details on the event Facebook page.

“Earth Songs”
Explore work by Ann Morriss Osgood, whose paintings of landscapes and flowers celebrate the earth as a source of truth and beauty. Osgood’s flowers are embellished with bits of gold and silver leaf, reflecting their status as jewels in the natural world. First Friday hours at {9} The Gallery are 6 to 10 p.m. Learn more on the event Facebook page.

“innies and outies”
Check out Dan Pederson’s mixed-media collage, blending color, line, graffiti, and paste-ups. Made with repurposed materials, these are created with what Pederson calls a euphoric, frenetic process that often leads to unexpected results. First Friday hours at Chartreuse are 6 to 10 p.m. Find more information on the Chartreuse website.

"Kaleidoscope"
See works by several artists working in diverse media, including Lisa Von Hoffner, Ryan Carey, Samuel Bennett, and Dani Godreau. They're part of a group exhibition at Unexpected Art Gallery, which will also feature a live body painting performance by artist Mark Greenwalt. First Friday hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Learn more on the Unexpected Art Gallery website.

Warehouse District
“Fearless Pop Up”
Fearlessly Deliver and curator Michelle Micalizzi present a pop-up show featuring 16 illustrators and painters at Icehouse Gallery. Participating artists include Cyndy Carstens, Ted Loomis, and Lucretia Torva. First Friday hours are 6 to 9 p.m. Learn more on the event Facebook page.

Garfield Neighborhood
“Figuratively Strasburger”
Explore work by Tucson artist George Strasburger, which features his current figurative work and paintings of male nudes created in the past two years, which marry a classical style to contemporary scenes of everyday life. First Friday hours at Alwun House, which include live music, are 7 to 11 p.m. Find more information on Alwun House website.

Read on for you guide to First Friday in the Central Corridor.
Central Corridor
“Postcards from Highway 20”
See photographs taken by Derek Ellis on a road trip across the country on old Highway 20. These are part of his first solo exhibition, happening at The Studio at Found:RE Phoenix. First Friday hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Get details on the event Facebook page.

“Caliente”
Check out a collaborative exhibition featuring art by Emily Costello, Frank Ybarra, Gennaro Garcia, and Joe Ray. Working with paint, prints, and ceramics, these artists have a shared love for infusing vibrant colors into their work. First Friday hours at Practical Art are 7 to 9 p.m. Find more information on the Practical Art website.

“The Art of Science”
See work inspired by biology, astronomy, and other sciences in this group exhibition at First Studio. The show features work by more than two dozen artists, including Manny Burruel, Luke Flowers, Val Hunt, Susan Norton-Scott, and Sunny Sabin. First Friday hours at First Studio are 6 to 10 p.m. Learn more on the event Facebook page.

“Black White Blue Yellow (BWBY)”
Heard Museum brings back Steve Yazzie’s immersive four-channel video and sound installation exploring four sacred mountains surrounding the Diné/Navajo people. First Friday programming includes Cut + Paste PHX and live music, and runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Get details on the Heard Museum website.

“Rain”
See a special installation by Magdalena Fernandez and get free admission to Phoenix Art Museum, where several additional exhibitions include Patricia Sannit’s “Rise Fall Rise.” The evening also includes a ticketed ($10) storytelling event called The Whole Story, Part III. First Friday hours are 6 to 10 p.m. Learn more on the Phoenix Art Museum website.

"Go With the Flow"
Get an early start on weekend art adventures at Framed Ewe and Phoenix General's Shortcut Gallery, where the opening reception for Abbey Messmer's solo exhibition takes place from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, August 3. Find more information on the event Facebook page.