Scottsdale has been quietly staking its claim as one of the Southwest’s premier cultural destinations, and this week offers another piece of evidence. Scottsdale Art Week returns for its sophomore outing starting today and lasting until this Sunday at WestWorld of Scottsdale, and if the buzz surrounding it is any indication, the city’s arts scene is very much arriving on a national stage.
So what should you know before you go?
The art is legitimately world-class. This isn’t a regional craft fair. More than 120 galleries from around the world will be presenting work, and the names on display read like a museum wall. Featured artists include Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Marc Chagall, David Hockney, Alex Katz, and Maynard Dixon. Multiple seven-figure pieces will be on offer, including a $1.2 million, 50-million-year-old fossil crocodile and a $1 million sculpture by Gino Miles that the artist spent six years creating.
The cultural programming goes deep. Complementing the gallery presentations is a full slate of programming produced in partnership with major institutions including the Phoenix Art Museum, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, the Denver Art Museum, and Heritage Auctions. Topics range from photography and the Western art market to Indigenous and Latin art; there’s genuine intellectual substance here beyond the gallery floor.
Local art is meaningful. Scottsdale Art Week makes a point of acknowledging the brilliant artists in our own midst, and in that vein this year’s Arizona Artist of the Year is Cara Romero, recognized for her innovative photography. It’s a reminder that some of the most compelling contemporary art can come from your own back yard.
Thursday night is where serious collectors move. The Opening Night Vernissage on Thursday, March 19 runs from 6 to 9 p.m. and benefits the Phoenix Art Museum, offering access to the full fair before the public doors open Friday.
Public days run Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with children 12 and under admitted free. Whether you’re a collector or simply curious, this is one worth showing up for. Head to ScottsdaleArtWeek.com for tickets and the full schedule, and drink in yet another example of Scottsdale’s excellence.