Here's a look at where to find the most interesting exhibits in May, from museums to nontraditional venues — including jewelry store, resort, and medical school art spaces.
Best of all, several include works by Arizona artists. And, of course, there's even a bit of Trump art in the mix.
Checking out Steve Hampton's The Bather 2 at Fine Art Complex 1101.
Steve Hampton/Photo by Lynn Trimble
'A Matter of Public Record'
Fine Art Complex 11011101 West University Drive, Tempe
Through May 25
For “A Matter of Public Record: Art in the Age of Mass Surveillance,” curator Grant Vetter is showing works in various media that address contemporary issues from drone warfare to airport security. Featured artists for the Fine Art Complex 1101 exhibit include Christine Cassano, Adriene Jenik, Nathaniel Lewis, Rembrandt Quiballo, and many more.
'Josef Albers in Mexico'
Heard Museum2301 North Central Avenue
Through May 27
The Heard Museum is showing an exhibition that originated at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, which explores the influence of pre-Columbian art and architecture on Bauhaus artist Josef Albers, whose work is infused with geometrics.
'Rising in Phoenix'
Shemer Art Center5005 East Camelback Road
Through May 29
This exhibit at Shemer Art Center highlighting emerging artists under the age of 40 includes works selected by artists and jurors Clare Verstegen and Susan Beiner. Featured artists include Dan Aponte, Ryan Eckert, Nora McGinnis, Elizabeth Odiorne, and others.
'Undercurrent'
The Balcony at London Gold10441 North Scottsdale Road
Through June 28
Phoenix-based artist Laura Spalding Best is showing oil paintings created on vintage silver trays and other found objects. The exhibition at The Balcony at London Gold continues the artist’s exploration of environmental issues in desert urban settings.
'Under Construction'
The Gallery at Mountain Shadows5445 East Lincoln Drive
Through June 30
Four artists are featured in this exhibition curated by John Reyes of Reyes Contemporary Art, which includes sculpture, video, paintings, and drawings. Participating artists for the Mountain Shadows exhibit are Turner G. Davis, Casey Farina, Elysia Holland Michaelsen, and Patricia Sannit.
'Emerge'
Art Intersection207 North Gilbert Road, Gilbert
May 8 to June 1
Phoenix-based photographer Buzzy Sullivan curated this exhibition at Art Intersection, which features works by students created using diverse photography techniques. Themes the students explored range from personal identity to sense of place.
Look for a new site-specific work by Crystal Wagner at Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum.
Courtesy of Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum
'Allure'
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum1 East Main Street, Mesa
May 10 to August 4
Multidisciplinary artist Crystal Wagner is showing a site-specific installation created for the Project Room at Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum. The artist is best-known for large-scale works created using chicken wire and torn plastic table cloths, which present fantastical takes on the natural world.
'At the Doors of Perception'
Lisa Sette Gallery210 East Catalina Drive
May 11 to August 31
Lisa Sette Gallery is exhibiting works by multiple artists who use various media to explore the intersection of the human psyche and technology-saturated culture, addressing topics ranging from psychotropics to possible alternative worlds. Featured artists include Binh Danh, Carrie Marill, Julianne Swartz, James Turrell, and many more.
'The Language of Memory'
U of A College of Medicine435 North Fifth Street
May 17 to June 28
Artist Diane Silver is showing mixed media works exploring memory and related topics, including time and identity, inside the Health Education Building at the U of A College of Medicine in Roosevelt Row.
'SouthwestNET: Shizu Saldamando'
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art7374 East Second Street
May 18 to October 13
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art continues its series highlighting mid-career artists working in the Southwest region of the U.S. and Mexico, with this presentation of new works by Shizu Saldamando, an artist who explores the issue of identity within under-represented communities.
