Visual Arts

Comic by David Quan, aka Luster Kaboom.Click on the image (or right here) for a full-size version. ​…

“Dwarf cars” sound like something Snow White’s vertically-challenged friends might drive, but they’re really miniature versions of full-size automobiles that are surprisingly roomy inside. They may be only waist-high, but they hold their own on both race tracks and roads — just ask the man who invented them, Maricopa resident…

When local artist Daniel Davis created Tiny Army, he says he was really just in the market for a few friends. “I didn’t want to start a group with memberships and membership dues and be like ‘this is a secret society’ and all that stuff,” says Davis. “I just wanted…

Cooper’s Art Gallery and Brokerage, which represents both heavy-hitting artists as well as some up and comers, will soon have a presence at el Pedregal. The 5,300-square-foot venue, which will showcase the work of more than 60 artists, will be a “visual surprise,” according to owner Patricia Cooper Wesley. The…

Natalie Portman’s portrayal of a psychotic prima ballerina in the thriller Black Swan shone a glaring light on the world of professional dance. It’s not all frilly tutus and magical nutcrackers — that’s just the fantasy the dancer creates on the stage. Similarly, deception is at the core of “Dance…

Local artist Jen Urso has one month to raise $10,000 to fund her latest project. “The Things In Between” is born from Urso’s fascination with vacant lots in Phoenix and reading body language. While the two may seem unrelated, Urso hopes to bring them together to examine the moments between conversation…

On March 4, a new gallery will open in the old anti_space location on Fourth Street and McKinley in downtown Phoenix. Like other galleries in the area, Cade Gallery will exhibit a variety of artwork, but (nerd alert) it’s also an old school, mini-arcade, so customers can kill space bugs…

Joyce Farmer’s more than happy to dish on what she used to create her graphic novel, Special Exits, she even pull out her bright blue mechanical pencil without an eraser and a worn and tattered grip.The California-based artist and writer’s known for her openness both in person and through her…

Don’t get us wrong, we love Ignite — if we can manage to get in the door without trading regrettable sexual favors for the “free” tickets. But there’s something about the newer PechaKucha events we can really get behind. The event includes plenty of beer, wine, and snacks to go around,…

We can thank the idiots Matthew Inman worked with in the corporate world for driving him to quit and ultimately start his own webcomic.The 28-year-old says he was sick of the office (mostly the printer) and decided to work for himself. Just more than a year after he launched TheOatmeal.com,…

R.I.P. Paulina Miller Gallery. The upscale art space inside the historic Charles E. Palen House at Roosevelt and First streets in downtown Phoenix quietly stopped hosting monthly exhibits in mid-2010, after more than 10 years of showcasing local and national art. No one seemed to notice, in part because the…

If it were up to us, every day would be Third Friday with tons of new work from local artists who are just debuting and have been around for a while. Here are six shows you won’t want to miss: 1. What Goes On and What Takes Place @ Modified…

It’s about time Phoenix sees some serious mural love. In the interest of giving credit to their artists and because we’re losing track of the times we’ve said, “Woah, when did that go up?”, we bring you Mural City, a series on the murals springing up around town — their…

The Netherlands’ Afrika Museum and African Architecture Matters recently announced that Valley-based Fusion Architecture’s Garden City Park is one of three finalists for the 2010 “Blueprints of Paradise” competition. Kobina Banning, founder of Fusion Architecture (FA), and his team “were asked to visualize their vision on ‘future built Africa,'” says…

Put Pong next to Marvel vs. Capcom 3 and you’ll see that video games have come a long way. But you don’t have to tell the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC; it’s planning to chronicle the gaming evolution through a new exhibit. And bonus: The museum is asking…

Fetish Revolution 11 took over the Venue Scottsdale on Saturday, February 12, and to many of the thousand-plus people in attendance, the most exciting performances were flesh-hook acrobatics by local group Life Suspended.But for us, the most exciting performance — and by far the most amazing thing we’ve ever seen…

Coronado Neighborhood History BookDonna Reiner, Jen Kitson, and the Coronado Neighborhood Association are compiling a history-centric tome about one of Phoenix’s coolest historic neighborhoods, and they’re looking for old photos, stories, and any other relevant materials. The effort will be printed by Arcadia Publishing, who recently dropped a book about…

MAD ONE (aka Mike Neely) is leaving town. The local street art brain behind more than a few notable stencils, stickers, and pieces around the street scene and rotating shows at Atmosphere Salon and Cartel Coffee is putting up a few of his pieces from his latest series, “Differences” before…

It’s official, George freaking Takei is coming to Phoenix Comicon. The announcement of the Star Trek actor’s appearance came at the Phoenix Comicon Kickoff event Thursday night. More than 300 people jammed into a Phoenix Convention Center seminar room to hear what guests, events, and exclusive items were confirmed for…

Scottsdale’s pop-up gallery scene continues to gain steam. One of the latest participants is IDK Gallery, which opened in December and will be unveiling its second art show tonight. Idakatherine Graver has been an artist for 35 years, but IDK, located at 4200 North Marshall Way, Suite 1, is the…