What to do and see in Tucson, Arizona (AZ): The Best Art Galleries

The renowned Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is everything you could want in a Sonoran Desert adventure! Mostly outdoors and comprised of an AZA-accredited zoo, extensive botanical garden, two art galleries, and a natural history museum, the Desert Museum sits on 98 acres of pristine desert landscape. The Museum showcases the diverse flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert region, featuring wildlife such as coyotes, javelinas, mountain lions, and bighorn sheep in their natural settings. Bird lovers delight in visiting the Museum's two aviaries, one dedicated to hummingbirds! Kids love the interactive Packrat Playhouse and Stingray Touch exhibits, learning to appreciate our unique environment from a young age. The Museum's gift shops offer an incredible bounty of books, jewelry, crafts, and more. This family-friendly establishment offers something for everyone!

This is a gallery of contemporary art glass from artists across the country; the only all-glass gallery in Southern Arizona. One can shop for gifts, jewelry, and one-of-a-kind pieces of art for your special niche. Free parking on the street and in the rear. Lunch restaurants close by. Fall,Winter,Spring hours: 10-5. Summer hours: 11-4.

Jane Hamilton Fine Art represents over 50 artists for over 28 years! Our gallery boasts a spectacular variety of southwest art from traditional to abstract, as well as stunning outdoor sculpture. Located in the Catalina Foothills of Tucson Arizona, the gallery is surrounded by breathtaking mountain views, fantastic shopping and delicious restaraunts. Make a day of it, come out and see some art! Jane hosts monthly events, so check the website to see what's happening next!

Madaras Gallery features the art and southwest gifts of award-winning painter Diana Madaras and 22 featured artists. Come discover and explore Tucson in six rooms of color and joy. Voted BEST GALLERY, and BEST ARTIST seven times. Unique Southwest gifts and the largest collection of local paintings. Diana Madaras has been called "Tucson's' Best Ambassador" by Visit Tucson.

Maynard Dixon is considered by many art collectors of the West to be their premier artist. His ability to capture the West and its inhabitants, in a nonjudgmental and honest way, has left an indelible legacy. The Maynard Dixon Museum, while not in New Mexico, is a little less than an hour flight from Albuquerque to Tucson Arizona. " The hundred dollar Southwest flight is well worth it," says Dr. Mark Sublette who is the Museum's founder and Maynard Dixon expert. Sublette goes on to say "The Museum has tried to capture the essence of Dixon, the artist as well as the individual, through not only his artwork but through his letters and poetry." Sublette's Maynard Dixon Museum, the only museum dedicated to the lifework of Maynard Dixon, has succeeded in that goal. Over a hundred pieces of artwork including paintings, drawings, and original Maynard Dixon ephemera can be seen at the Museum. The Maynard Dixon Museum, located within Medicine Man Gallery on Tanque Verde Road in Tucson, is a treasure trove for those who love Dixon. Dixon's original easel resides in the museum. Many artists have made the pilgrimage just to see his easel with its copious drips of blue paint. Dixon's easel, with its Pollock like surface, succinctly captures a fifty-year time frame of Dixon's innate color sensibilities. Numerous original vintage photos by Dixon's second wife Dorthea Lange can also be found in the Museum, along with a lovely vintage photograph of Dixon taken in 1944 by Ansel Adams. Ansel gave the photograph to the Dixon family, and it now resides permanently in the Museum. Edith Hamlin, a well-known artist in her own right and Dixon's last wife, is also represented in the Dixon Museum collection. For the bibliophiles, nearly one hundred original books, magazines, and sunset magazine covers are on display.

On the National Register of Historic Places, this legendary landmark of Southwestern art and architecture was designed and built by acclaimed Arizona artist Ted DeGrazia. The 10-acre foothills site includes the adobe gallery with permanent and rotating exhibits, mission with interior murals, gift shop, cactus courtyard, the artist’s home, and his grave. Open daily 10-4, closed on these days: New Year’s, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Plenty of parking and handicap accessible. Admission Fees – $8.00 for adults, $5.00 for ages 12-18, under 12 are free. An annual individual membership is $25.00, with two buddy passes or an annual family membership is $55.00, with four buddy passes.

Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery specializes in Antique Native American Art, Old Pawn Jewelry, Navajo Rugs, Baskets, Early 2oth Century Paintings, Taos founders. The gallery houses the Maynard Dixon Museum, a 23 year collection of drawings, illustrations, poetry, oils, and ephemera. Admission is free. The gallery also features nationally acclaimed contemporary southwestern artists and sculptors.

The Museum educates its guests on the art and history of the Desert Southwest. Nowhere else will you see such a variety of contemporary and classic art, Native American textiles and southwestern artifacts. The Museum Store features authentic southwestern and Native American jewelry, pottery and gift items for purchase. The Four Corners Gallery carries jewelry from Native American artists, southwestern plein air artists and contemporary western works for purchase. Fall 2020 Hours are Wed- Fri 10 AM to 2 PM. Sat 9 to 12 Noon. Closed July and August.