Scottsdale’s rich and vibrant art scene shines brightly with interactive and immersive contemporary exhibits, awe-inspiring events, and timeless masterpieces. An art lover’s paradise awaits this fall.
- Since 1985, the Scottsdale Public Art program has created a diverse collection of over 150 works and a signature event, Canal Convergence, Scottsdale’s annual, free-to-attend public art festival. Returning for its 11th year Nov. 3-12, the theme is “The Power of Play,” which explores the power and influence of play in people’s lives through large-scale, engaging public art and performances. Attendees will be able to interact with various light-based artworks including AlexP’s “Sym,” Iregular’s “DICE,” Liquid PXL’s “Light Forest,” and more.
- Visitors can discover the essence of the American West at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, a Smithsonian Affiliate. On Oct. 10, the museum is introducing the exhibit, “Decades: William Matthews,” which brings the artist’s most prolific artworks, including his plein air watercolors, album covers, and murals. The Arizona Indigenous Culinary Experience showcases the unique culinary arts of Arizona’s Native Peoples on Nov. 18 with cooking demos and tastings from local, indigenous chefs.
- Located in the newly renovated Scottsdale Civic Center, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) presents the best of contemporary art, architecture, and design. “Christina Fernandez: Multiple Exposures,” which just debuted Sept. 16, highlights the photographer’s most important bodies of works from her 30-year career. “Roelof Knol: the space in between,” debuts Sept. 23. The audiovisual experience responds to the viewer’s movement, making a single or shared pathway with other participants, while a soundscape created in collaboration with Dutch DJ, Don Diablo, plays.
- The Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) showcases melodies from around the world with 7,500 instruments from more than 200 countries and territories, monthly cultural celebrations, and 300 concerts annually. Its Artist Gallery is dedicated to music legends such as John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Taylor Swift. The MIM’s Fall Concert Series includes the flamenco duo of Israel Fernández and Diego del Morao, as well as a slice of Americana with Don McLean, and Big Richard.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site, Taliesin West, served as the famed Frank Lloyd Wright’s personal home, studio, and architectural laboratory. “American Icons: Wright and O’Keeffe,” gives a glimpse of some never-before-seen photographs of Frank Lloyd Wright and Georgia O’Keeffe, upon its opening Oct. 20. The photos were taken by Michael A. “Tony” Vaccaro while on assignment for LOOK Magazine from 1957 to 1960 and are displayed in pairs to show its visual symmetry and provide insight on the relationship between the two legends.
- Wonderspaces, a year-round, evolving art show, welcomes two new installations this season. “PIPE,” a sculpture by Rejane Cantoni, captures sunrise to sunset at the Grand Canyon from the artist’s perspective. “Into the Light” by Julia Carrillo is a captivating projection of the decomposition of light, that reveals a rainbow of color.
More inspiration for exploring Scottsdale’s art scene year-round, can be found in this art enthusiast itinerary and fact sheet
