About the Collection
The notable strengths of the American collection are American modernism, art of the American West, and prints. It features work dating from the late 18th century to the mid-20th century. The development of American artistic traditions can be traced from portraiture in the late eighteenth century, to the rise in prominence of landscape painting in the 19th century, the popularity of genre scenes, as well as the academic figurative traditions of history and large-scale society paintings. The collection reflects the influence in naturalism stemming from European artistic traditions. Represented artists include: Winslow Homer, Sanford Robinson Gifford, Gilbert Stuart, John Singleton Copley, Fitz Henry Lane, George Inness, Eastman Johnson, William Merritt Chase, Robert Henri, and others.
American art of the southwest includes the Taos School from the first quarter of the twentieth century, early Western modernism from New Mexico, and depictions of the present-day “New West.” A newly defined area emphasizes the cultural history of Arizona and the greater Southwest. Represented artists include Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Moran, Frederic Remington, Eanger Irving Couse, Walter Ufer, Ernest Martin Hennings, Maynard Dixon, Georgia O’Keeffe, Mary-Russell Ferrell Colton, Lew Davis, Philip Latimer Dike, Ed Mell, Paul Pletka, Howard Post, and Louisa McElwain.
Art of the Americas
The Art of the Americas Collections feature Art of the American West, American Art (Pre-Modern), and Viceregal Latin American Art. These Collections house works dating from the late 18th century to the early 20th century. Through the objects on view, we can uncover historical connections across America, Latin American, viceregal, and Spanish Colonial Art by using the Collection more broadly, as well as contemporary cross-cultural intersections.
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Art of Asia
The Art of Asia Collection feature historical and modern works of Asia, highlighting the unique cultures and artistic and religious traditions of the people of this expansive region. The collection spans more than one thousand years of history from India and Iran to China and Japan.
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Modern and Contemporary Art
The Modern and Contemporary Art Collection at Phoenix Art Museum feature American, European and Latin American modern art holdings from these previously siloed Collections, re-position the Museum’s comprehensive Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art as the second largest of the Museum’s Collections.
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Art of Europe
The Art of Europe Collection features historical masterpieces from the 14th through the 19th centuries, including some of the most celebrated names of the Western European artistic tradition.
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Latin American
The Latin American Art Collection is a sub focus area for Modern and Contemporary (1960 – Present) and features more than 1,000 works from across North, Central and South America. From Spanish Colonial to contemporary works by living artists, the collection explores artistic traditions that are especially meaningful to our shared experience in a border region.
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Photography
Through a landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona, Phoenix Art Museum presents three annual exhibitions of photography to its community, drawn from the CCP’s unparalleled collection of historical and contemporary photography.
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Thorne Rooms
The Thorne Rooms provide a glimpse into replications of rooms found in America and Europe, at an exacting 1:12 scale. A beloved favorite of visitors of all ages, they have been painstakingly preserved for nearly a century.
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On view for a limited time, exhibitions present art from across the centuries and the globe, from iconic fashion to Old Master paintings, contemporary photography to historical objects of Asia.
MORECOLLECTIONS
Featuring more than 20,000 objects, the collection spans the globe, bringing the world to our city, and our city to the world.
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