We have a sneaking suspicion local curator Becky Nahom might actually know all of the artists in the greater Phoenix area. Or at least she has a knack for bringing together a wide array of Valley creatives in her exhibitions. In “From the Sidelines,” her latest curatorial endeavor at ASU’s…
Hip-hop culture haven and studio Cyphers: The Center of Urban Arts has always been an old school kind of place, from the vintage decor like boomboxes and classic Chuck Taylors adorning its digs to the throwback b-boy moves getting busted on its dance floor. So it seems only natural that…
The city of Phoenix threw down some serious cash for the PHX Sky Train. But that money wasn’t spent on train tech and architecture alone. You might not know it at first glance, but there was a fat budget for the public art projects scattered across the different stations and…
Talk about an artistic marriage made in psychiatric hell. Running until August 11 at Mesa Arts Center’s Museum, Texas artist Alice Leora Briggs and Tucson artist Albert Kogel have married their diametrically opposed styles and media in an environmental installation called “Bipolar” to create an all-too-convincing taste of what once…
If you really think about it, the fact that so many of us are able to live and thrive in the desert is pretty counter-intuitive — if not completely insane. At some point or another, we’ve all wondered what in the world we are doing here. In a group exhibition…
Remind Pete Petrisko that he’s one of the pioneers of the Phoenix downtown arts scene, and he’ll likely tell you you’re “weird.” Petrisko’s big on insulting people, even when they’re paying him a compliment. And, lately, he’s also big on public art. Petrisko has been posting his new work –…
The biggest pop culture convention in the country will lumber its way into San Diego next weekend. Hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world will pour into Southern California to celebrate their obsessions with their like-minded peers. If you are one of those lucky people who will…
If you’ve ever imagined Phoenix becoming totally submerged in water, then you and Abbey Messmer have something in common. The local artist says living in the desert didn’t prevent her from finding inspiration for her current series of aquatic artwork in “Submerged” currently on view at Eye Lounge. “There is…
In honor of what would have been Frida Kahlo’s 106th birthday, the Phoenix Fridas are preparing a celebration fit for a queen. Starting on July’s First Friday with the exhibition “Celebrating Frida” at Burton Barr Central Library, the local group of artists and artisans will pay homage to the Mexican…
¿Como se dice “hot mess” en español? It’s about the only term I can think of to describe “Turn Off the Sun,” an ongoing exhibition of selections from the mighty Jumex Collection now showing at ASU Art Museum. Initially, I was ecstatic when I heard that work from the Jumex…
Artist Kevin Bates admits he was never much of a skate trickster. He may have ridden a board around during his high school days and hung out with grinders, but didn’t pull off much in the way of epic kickflips or pole jams. Truth be told, he was more into…
¿Como se dice “hot mess” en español? It’s about the only term I can think of to describe “Turn Off the Sun,” an on-going exhibition of selections from the mighty Jumex Collection now showing at ASU Art Museum. Initially, I was ecstatic when I heard that work from the Jumex…
The weekly art walk put on by the Scottsdale Gallery Association is upping its game next month for the 24th Annual Summer Spectacular ArtWalk. The event will include dozens of exhibition openings, artist demonstrations, and street performances scattered throughout the Scottsdale Arts District…
What do you get when you cross a sweet, universally worshiped Japanese icon with a low-riding chola from East LA? According to Such Styles, well-known Phoenix graffiti artist and muralist whose real name is Noe Baez, you’ve just given birth to Chola Kitty, his latest creation. Such, as he prefers…
If you’re the creative type that gets inspired by a tall glass of cold, carbonated beer, then Four Peaks has quite the opportunity for you to show off your skills. The local brewery has put out the call for local artists to submit designs for their next order of coasters…
Rebecca Green is kind of a big deal. The artist, who is responsible for the fairytale mural outside of Grand Avenue’s The Lodge studio, is currently writing as a guest blogger for Flow Magazine while prepping for her final show in Phoenix at the end of this month. “Coyote Ghost”…
If you happen to be friends with any of the local artists competing in Friday night’s Paint & Pátron event at Macayo’s Depot Cantina in Tempe, expect to get a call from them in the next 24 hours (if you haven’t already). Or an e-mail, tweet, Facebook shout-out, or any…
It might seem strange to go on a tour in your own hometown, but that’s exactly what board members of IN FLUX had in mind when they started planning the IN FLUX Cycle 3 Multi-City Tour slated to take place on Saturday, June 22. Kirstin Van Cleef, who founded IN…
First Friday heats up June 7 with creative works going up all over the city. Here are our seven picks for shows not to miss this artful evening. What’s on your to-see list? See also: Phoenix to Launch Bike Share Program in December Five Must-See Movies in Metro Phoenix This…
Those who follow artist Hugo Medina on Facebook probably remember when he invited artists to paint 80 wooden panels for a huge project he kicked off at the Phoenix Festival of the Arts. During the three-day event last December he asked local creatives to paint 80 panels and placed blank…
Hello Kitty is approaching 40, which might be a little early for a mid-life crisis, but if cats really do have nine lives, now is as good a time as any for reinvention. Enter: Chola Kitty — a feline with spunk. This Friday, local artist Such Styles is unveiling his…
When architect and artist Paolo Soleri passed away in April, Arizona (and the world) lost a prominent visionary and innovative creative force. Soleri pioneered “arcology,” a concept that fuses ecology and architecture, and created a live-in example of his theory with the experimental town Arcosanti, located near Cordes Junction. However,…
