Press RoomPhoenix Art Museum to premiere new photo exhibition as anime-inspired show closes; welcomes artist Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe for Spring Lenhardt Lecture
Phoenix Art Museum to premiere new photo exhibition as anime-inspired show closes; welcomes artist Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe for Spring Lenhardt Lecture
Feb, 23, 2023
Media Alerts
Phoenix Art Museum to premiere new photo exhibition as anime-inspired show closes; welcomes artist Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe for Spring Lenhardt Lecture
PHOENIX (February 23, 2023) – This March, Phoenix Art Museum will host virtual programs and in-person events, including Creative Saturday, a National Theatre Live simulcast screening, the spring Lenhardt Lecture featuring Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe, and much more. PhxArt will also premiere the latest major photography exhibition, Fashioning Self: The Photography of Everyday Expression, featuring a rotating display of social media images shared by community members via the hashtag #FashioningSelf.
CLOSING SOON Mr.: You Can Hear the Song of This Town Closing March 12, 2023
Mr.: You Can Hear the Song of this Town showcases the imaginative and visually complex works of contemporary Japanese artist Mr. Influenced by anime and manga, Mr. creates feverish graffiti-inspired paintings and sculptures that explore tragedy, trauma, and fantasy within Japanese society and among a global audience obsessed with social media. The exhibition features a large selection of works by the former protégé of Takashi Murakami, including a new 33-foot-long canvas on view to the public for the first time.
Mr.: You Can Hear The Song of This Town is organized by Phoenix Art Museum, with special thanks to Lehmann Maupin and Kaikai Kiki. It is made possible through the generosity of a Major Sponsor (Anonymous), Partner Sponsors Ronald and Valery Harrar and Men’s Arts Council, Supporting Sponsor Ms. Isabelle Georgeaux, and Contributing Sponsor Kevie Yang, with additional support from The Japan Foundation–Los Angeles and Kimpton Hotel Palomar.
OPENING SOON Fashioning Self: The Photography of Everyday Expression March 8 – November 12, 2023 Fashioning Self: The Photography of Everyday Expression explores the long-intertwined relationship between fashion as a tool for self-expression and photography’s role in chronicling it. Organized by Phoenix Art Museum and the Center for Creative Photography (CCP), the exhibition features 54 works of street, documentary, and self-portrait photography from 1912 to 2015. Iconic views by Dennis Feldman, Laura Volkerding, Linda Rich, John Simmons, David Hume Kennerly, Teenie Harris, and more illuminate the dialogue that occurs between photographer and subject—the give-and-take between self-performance and art making. Alongside these works, Fashioning Self also features a rotating display of social media images shared by community members and individuals from across the United States via the hashtag #FashioningSelf.
Fashioning Self: The Photography of Everyday Expression is organized by Phoenix Art Museum and the Center for Creative Photography. It is made possible through the generosity of the Museum’s Circles of Support and Museum Members.
ON VIEW NOW MOVE: The Modern Cut of Geoffrey Beene Through July 23, 2023 MOVE: The Modern Cut of Geoffrey Beene celebrates the dynamic fashions of the late designer renowned for revolutionizing American sportswear and for his trailblazing runway ballets. Featuring garments drawn from the institution’s Geoffrey Beene Archive, the exhibition showcases a wide array of jumpsuits, jackets, dresses, and more, along with materials and ephemera from Beene’s personal archive, on loan from Authentic Brands Group and on view publicly for the first time.
MOVE: The Modern Cut of Geoffrey Beene is organized by Phoenix Art Museum with the support of Authentic Brands Group, LLC. It is made possible through the generosity of Major Sponsors Ellen and Howard C. Katz, Partner Sponsor The Virginia M. Ullman Foundation, Contributing Sponsors Miriam and Yefim Sukhman, and Media Sponsor KJZZ/KBACH.
Additional support provided by Arizona Costume Institute, the Kelly Ellman Fashion Design Endowment Fund, and Kimpton Hotel Palomar.
Mission and Legacy Through December 31, 2023 Mission and Legacy features works by many of the most renowned Mexican artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, including José Clemente Orozco, Enrique Chagoya, Carlos Mérida, Rufino Tamayo, Francisco Zúñiga, and Alfredo Ramos Martínez, all of which were gifted to the Museum by Friends of Mexican Art (FOMA). After decades of support and the achievement of its mission, FOMA sunset as an organization in 2022. The organization has been instrumental in growing the PhxArt collection through the donation of 25 outstanding works by artists from Mexico, many of which are on display in Mission and Legacy and helped form the foundation of the Museum’s Latin American art collection.
Mission and Legacy is organized by Phoenix Art Museum. It is made possible through the generosity of Friends of Mexican Art.
FEATURED MARCH 2023 EVENTS Creative Saturday March 11 | 11 – 2 pm Free for Members | Included with general admission to the general public Don’t miss one of the last chances to see special-engagement exhibition Mr.: You Can Hear the Song of This Town. Families and friends are invited to join artist Russ Kazmierczak from Amazing Arizona Comics to create your own comic book, enjoy traditional Japanese flute performances by Lani Villanueva at noon and 1 pm, and participate in kawaii-style face painting with Phoenix-based artist Christina Ranburger. For more information, click here.
Creative Saturday is made possible in part by Carolyn Dunkin Schulte Educational Endowment Fund, The Discount Tire Endowment for Children’s Art Programs, and the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fund for Education Programs.
Lenhardt Lecture: Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe in conversation with Larry Ossei-Mensah March 22 | 7 pm Free for Members | $5 for the general public Presented in Whiteman Hall. Limited capacity. PhxArt presents renowned artist Otis Kwame Kye Quaicoe in conversation with curator and cultural critic Larry Ossei-Mensah for the Museum’s spring Lenh ardt Lecture, a key component of the Dawn and David Lenhardt Contemporary Art Initiative. Quaicoe is known for his images of empowerment and redemption, including portraits of Black cowboys that seek to discontinue a widespread inaccurate and exclusionary account of U.S. history. The lecture featuring the Ghanaian artist coincides with the Museum’s recent acquisition of Quaicoe’s Profile of Larry Ossei (2022), which will be on view this spring in the Museum’s Katz Wing for Modern Art. Hear from Quaicoe and the subject of this recent acquisition, Larry Ossei-Mensah, as they interact during a lively conversation in the Museum’s Whiteman Hall. Tickets are available for reservation here.
The Lenhardt Lecture Series is made possible through the generosity of The David and Dawn Lenhardt Contemporary Art Initiative.
OTHER MARCH 2023 EVENTS Storytime in the Garden March 1 | 10:30 am Free for Members | Included in general admission for the general public Advance registration recommended Designed for our youngest PhxArt visitors (ages 0-5) and their parents or caregivers, Storytime in the Garden is a wonderful opportunity to share the joy of early literacy, art-inspired play, and hands-on learning with family and friends. The Storytime in the Garden series is offered on the first Wednesday of each month in the Dorrance Sculpture Garden. Tickets are available for reservation here.
Storytime in the Garden is made possible in part by the Angela and Leonard Singer Endowment for Performing Arts, The Discount Tire Endowment for Children’s Art Programs, and the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fund for Education Programs.
Object of the Month: Studio Interior (A Corner of My Studio) by Joseph Henry Sharp March 2, 4, 16, 23, 30 | 11:30 am Free for Members | Included with general admission for the general public This small, quiet, but detailed painting offers fascinating insight into the life of Joseph Henry Sharp, a founding member of the Taos Society of Artists known for his artwork of Indigenous peoples. Although everything depicted may seem realistic, there is more than meets the eye. Join Docent Edie Taylor for a closer look at the objects represented and consider those not included. For more information, click here.
Weekly Virtual Mindfulness Sessions March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 | Noon Free for Members | $5 suggested donation for the general public Scientific studies show the art of mindfulness can relieve anxiety, depression, pain, and stress and actually change the way we feel, think, work, and play by opening new pathways in the brain. Presented in collaboration with Hospice of the Valley, this free, 30-minute, at-home mindfulness session promotes living in the present. This session is hosted live on Zoom, a video-conference platform. For more information, click here.
How to Make Ourself and Others Happy With Gen-la Kelsang Jampa March 15 | 7 – 8:30 pm $5 PhxArt Members |$5 KMC Members (with code) | $10 pre-reserved general admission for the general public Presented in Whiteman Hall. Limited capacity. Everyone wants a happy and meaningful life. Unfortunately, most people find it difficult to maintain happiness for very long, while problems and unhappiness seem to come naturally. In this public talk and meditation, learn simple and practical methods for experiencing true happiness by changing the mind. This inspirational special event is suitable for everyone without exception. Tickets are available for reservation here.
Lemon LibraryLecture and Book Club: What Artists Wear March 18 | Lecture @ Noon /// Book Club @ 1:30 pm Free for Members | Included with general admission for the general public Presented in Singer Hall and the Lemon Art Research Library Join librarian Jesse Lopez and artist and musician Saul Millan to learn about the highly influential, but now defunct, Japanese fashion magazine Fruits (1997-2017) and other Japanese subculture magazines from the 2000s. Original issues of Fruits magazine, which are part of the Lemon Art Research Library’s collection, will be on view.
National Theatre Live: The Crucible March 19 | 1 – 4 pm $15 for Members | $20 for the general public Presented in Whiteman Hall. Limited capacity. Raised to be seen but not heard, a group of young women in Salem suddenly find their words have an almighty power. As a climate of fear, vendetta, and accusation spreads through the community, no one is safe from trial. Rated PG-13. Estimated runtime: 3 h. Tickets are available here.
National Theatre Live screenings are made possible in part by the Angela and Leonard Singer Endowment for Performing Arts.
Night at the Museum: The Gospel According to André Fashion Meets Film Presented by FashFilmFete March 29, 2023 | 6 – 8:30 pm $5 for Members and the general public Presented in Whiteman Hall. Limited capacity. Join PhxArt and FashFilmFete, for a night at the museum when fashion meets film. The quarterly screenings will feature films where fashion is a pivotal component to the storytelling. Each screening will include a discussion panel with an audience Q&A after the film. Kate Novack explores the life of fashion journalist André Leon Talley in The Gospel According to André, taking viewers on an emotional journey from his roots growing up in the Jim Crow South, to become one of the most influential tastemakers and fashion curators of our times. Rated PG-13. Estimated: 1.5 h. More information available soon at phxart.org
FREE-ACCESS PROGRAMS Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesdays Every Wednesday | 3 – 9 pm Voluntary-donation general admission SPECIAL-EXHIBITION TICKETS: $6 for adults | FREE for Museum Members and veterans/active-duty military* | FREE for Maricopa County Community College Students** From 3 – 9 pm every Wednesday, the Museum offers voluntary-donation general admission and reduced rates to view special-engagement exhibitions.
Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesdays are made possible by SRP and City of Phoenix. *The Maricopa County Community College District program at Phoenix Art Museum (MC3@PAM) is made possible through the generosity of Presenting Sponsor Men’s Arts Council.
PhxArt AfterHours April 7 /// September 1 /// December 1, 2023 5 – 9 pmComplimentary admission | Free-access eventAt select times throughout the year, Phoenix Art Museum opens for free after dark for PhxArt AfterHours, activated by live music, art-making workshops, specialty food and drink experiences, and other performances and entertainment. Visit the Museum during an AfterHours event to expand the way you interact with art.
PhxArt AfterHours are made possible through the generosity of Partner Sponsor APS, with the support of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
PhxArt Family Fundays May 28 /// July 30 /// October 29 10 am – 5 pmComplimentary admission | Free-access dayAt select times throughout the year, Phoenix Art Museum hosts PhxArt Family Fundays, an all-ages, free-access day with complimentary admission to every gallery and exhibition and arts-engagement programming suitable for visitors of all ages, interests, and abilities.
PhxArt Family Fundays are made possible through the generosity of Presenting Sponsor Men’s Arts Council.
Free Admission for Maricopa County Community Colleges Students Through the MC3@PAM program at PhxArt, all Maricopa County Community Colleges students who attend any of the 10 colleges or affiliated skill centers will enjoy free general admission to PhxArt, including admission into special-engagement exhibitions. Visitors must present an active student ID at the time of admission.
The Maricopa County Community College District program at Phoenix Art Museum (MC3@PAM) is made possible through the generosity of Presenting Sponsor Men’s Arts Council.
SCHOOL AND ADULT TOURS On-site school and adult tours have returned to Phoenix Art Museum. To learn more about school-tour offerings and planning a school visit, click here. For adult and college group tour requests, click here.
In addition, Phoenix Art Museum offers live virtual presentations for school classrooms and community organizations. For more information on Virtual Classroom Visits, click here. For more information on Virtual Presentations for Adults, click here.
School Tours and Virtual Classroom Visits are made possible in part by Carolyn Dunkin Schulte Educational Endowment Fund, The Discount Tire Endowment for Children’s Art Programs the and William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fund for Education Programs.
PHXARTIST SPOTLIGHTS Presented by Phoenix Art Museum, PhxArtist Spotlight is a monthly series that explores what inspires and motivates Valley creatives, while leveraging the Museum’s reach in its community to support and expand awareness of working artists. Each month, the Museum highlights a different artist working in Arizona, posting a Q&A with the artist and images of their work on the Museum’s Instagram and Facebook channels and on the Museum’s bilingual blog. The artist is also highlighted in a monthly email sent to Museum Members, Circles of Support donors, and a subscriber list of more than 65,000 followers.For more information on the series, click here. For recent spotlights on Bryan David Griffith and Ernie Button, click here.
About Phoenix Art Museum Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum has provided millions of guests with access to world-class art and experiences in an effort to ignite imaginations, create meaningful connections, and serve as a brave space for all people who wish to experience the transformative power of art. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, the Museum is a vibrant destination for the visual arts and the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Each year, more than 300,000 guests engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 20,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. The Museum also presents a comprehensive film program, live performances, and educational programs designed for visitors of all ages, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.
