Scottsdale Art Walk is a famous event. It takes place every Thursday from roughly 6-9 p.m. in Old…read moreTown Scottsdale. Prior to going, I thought to myself: what can possibly make this weekly event so amazing. I thought I would be underwhelmed, Boy, was I wrong! I checked out the Art Walk for the first time in February. It took me a little while to find parking. Scottsdale has plenty of free street parking (which I always appreciate), including surface lots, but this is a popular event. After circling around for a few minutes, I was able to find a spot. In my opinion, here's the best way to enjoy the experience...have it come to you organically. Which is tough to say coming from someone who is a planner. Just walk around and walk into any and all of the art galleries that seem interesting to you. Of course, you can visit all of these galleries outside of the Scottsdale Art Walk. What makes this experience different is that rather than closing around 5 p.m., they keep their doors open late. Many of them will also offer complimentary drinks including wine, champagne, and cocktails. Awesome! With it being Scottsdale, you'll see a focus on Western and Native American art. That is not by any means the extent of what you'll find though. Some art galleries specialize in other styles of painting including surrealism, abstract art, French impressionism, or pointillism. Are y'all impressed with my knowledge of art? All of the art books I read when I was a kid are coming in clutch now. The art is generally quite expensive so I didn't buy anything but I still very much enjoyed the experience. You're also likely to find entertainment on the streets e.g. musicians and street performers. My favorite of the bunch I saw was a Native American performance. There are also Gold Palette Walks which are special versions of the weekly Scottsdale Art Walk. I haven't been to one of these, so I can't touch on how they compare, but I would like to at some point. I feel like a Scottsdale Art Walk is an experience all locals should check out at some point!

The Scottsdale weekly Thursday art walk is a great date night activity. Watch for the gold pallet…read moreones for extra activities going on like artists painting live and wine and cheese at the galleries. Nice to combine with the nearby Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art that also has free/donation based entry on Thursday evenings.

Wow - love making "accidental discoveries!" I was ordering out at Barrio Cafe & this shop is just…read moresouth of the restaurant, in the same building. Petra, the owner, told me lots about her store & so I'll try to share maybe a quarter of what I remember! She carries "all things Frida Kahlo-inspired" obviously - from artwork to masks to Christmas ornaments to throw pillows Y MAS. She also shares the space with famed local artist/muralist Lalo Cota, one of my absolute favorite. So this place is packed with fun, colorful, one-of-a-kind pieces. This is also a community space: they hold events like next week's heart event, making heart art & talking about heart health. Come check this "only in Phoenix" space for handicrafts/gifts for fam/friends or for yourself!

What a truly amazing place!! Hopping into Frida's Garden makes me feel like I am in the happiest…read moreplace on earth. Petra (owner) is SO friendly, and her colorful personality is echoed in the bright colors of the space. If you are a fan of famed Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo, then you must visit. They have everything from art prints and canvases, to shirts, pens , masks, beanies and more. Plus, if you are familiar with famed Phoenix muralist, Lalo Cota, you will see a lot of his amazing work there as well. He shares this space and holds Tequila Tacos y Arte night there with Petra where you can come in and paint one of his famous prints. We came for this paint night event and we had such a great time. Fabulous crowd, and we vibed all night to some old school music, tequila drinks and tacos. If you are looking for a one of a kind gift inspired by art, you must check this place out. Or if you are looking for a fun night out with friends, family or a date night--Go to Tequila Tacos y Arte. Check their Instagram for more info. Highly recommend this place!! I'll be back for round two of paint night soon!!

The Marshall Gallery is located in an Old Town Scottsdale. It is one of my favorite galleries in…read morethe area for all their contemporary collection of paintings, glass, and sculptures. Don't forget to visit their upstairs area showing more glass works and paintings. Free street parking.

I visited the Marshall Art Gallery this morning and received an excellent education in many fine…read moreartists and their outstanding pieces. I personally loved the works of Douglas Aagars. Jillian did a wonderful job of demonstrating the importance of lighting when displaying his Birch Tree painting. The Gallery had a wonderful display of multiple mediums from many artists from the Western States. I would recommend visiting this Gallery and working with Jillian Latzman.

Did a reading at this gallery last night and really loved the space. Great visual art on the walls,…read moreespecially the landscapes by Joshua Dean Wiley, they really grabbed me, The gallery had a really nice, open, and welcoming feel. They are also well set up to provide good and drinks. The staff seemed really friendly and stoked to host us. I gather the space is also available to rent for both public and private gatherings. I don't know the exact history of the ownership of the place but I hear it's a pretty good story. There were 40+/- people there last night, all seated, and the space felt full but not crowded. If you are down on Grand Ave. for sure go check out the art and if you are looking for a space for a small event or party I would for sure consider this place.

Great space. They always feature an eclectic variety of artists that feature many different media…read moretypes. Thanks for keeping our neighborhood a vibrant part of First Friday.

This was an enchanting work shop/art exhibit north of Scottsdale…read more I didn't expect such a nice arrangement of creative wind chimes that were cast metal and glass. The entire establishment is an art piece with the creator having envisioned the architecture to appear the way it is. The chimes are very expensive mind you. But they are beautiful and they sound terrific. There is a tour and there are classes on how to make the clay tiles, which they also sell. I would come by if you like creative arts. :)

Who knew a Cosanti was located in Paradise Valley! I've always traveled north to Arcosanti located…read morein Mayer to take visitors and purchase gifts. This has a much different vibe than the Mayer location. We were able to watch the Artisans at works, creating the various winches, bells and other metal art. The various rooms look like they were built right into the ground. I also felt the art was more interesting at Cosanti. Make sure you stop in for a tour, read about the history and find some truly unique gifts or decor for your home.

We are in the Bentley Gallery mailing list. They had an art reception for several artists…read more The gallery is a small contemporary art gallery. The works did not compete with each other. The gallery staff asked if we noticed what was above the gallery. We didn't notice but staff told us they were shipping containers turned Air BNBs. Cool idea. Metered street parking and some free parking.

We had absolutely no idea this place existed despite being in the Phoenix area for 40+ years…read more Bentley herself was there, as well as another very kind docent. We got to see the last day of the Deborah Sperber (check her work out!) exhibit and it was wonderful. I could not believe how talented the artist was and the space in general is gorgeous. We were lucky enough to score a parking spot right out front. The gallery is quaint, so I would expect to spend 30ish minutes inside. We will be visiting again soon!

8th Wonder Studio provides a great space for artists and the community to come together and…read moreappreciate glass art. Their recent event, "The Swarm" was a cool experience being able to watch pieces get made and come together. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly, looking forward to more events in the future.

The staff and artists could not be better. From customs to heady art and their classes. It's the…read morevalleys one stop shop for the connoisseur. Stop in and see them you won't be disappointed. Pride and craftsmanship is what the owner is all about. Their a kindtray sponsored shop so they have an incredible amount of kindtrays ready to go. This is my shop here in the north valley from anyone like myself as true discerning collector to novice beginner you'll feel welcome at 8thwonder.

We've been looking for museums and art galleries to change up the day to day and add some culture…read moreto our busy lives. I was driving past this spot so I thought I would check it out to maybe bring the girlfriend and the family. I wasn't able to see any art this day but I did explore the little shops around here to also give us ideas for food when we come back. I will update my star rating when we get back here.

I love this little gem in downtown Gilbert. Art Intersection was established in 2011. I was a…read morestudent in a black and white photography class down the street at Chandler-Gilbert CC when they opened. They had asked us in our class to submit a photo for viewing for a student photography exhibit at Art Intersection. I have visited numerous exhibits over the years since discovering this place. Art Intersection is located on the second floor of the Heritage Court Building. In addition to being a gallery, they offer a variety of photography classes for both beginners and experts. They also have a wet darkroom and both a process and digital lab that you can rent out. I have taken a photoshop class here in the past and enjoyed getting to know the founder Alan Fitzgerald. He has a deep passion and love for photography and is fun to chat with about photography. Every few months Art Intersection showcases an artist's photography work in their gallery. This includes an opening night reception where you can meet the artist and chat with them about their work. It's a great way to learn about many of the local photographers here in the Valley and view their work. The annual "No Strangers" exhibit is one of my favorites to check out. They used to have a fun event called Phototapas where they would celebrate the art of photography during the month of February. If you want to check out some great photography work and avoid the hassle of a larger museum, Art Intersection is open throughout the week and is free to visit.