Phoenix Art Museum to present new exhibition of oil studies, final paintings, and more by Arizona artist Ed Mell 

Oct, 20, 2025

CollectionsAmerican and Western American Art

Phoenix Art Museum to present new exhibition of oil studies, final paintings, and more by Arizona artist Ed Mell 

Opening November 2025 with the premiere of the Museum’s renovated James K. Ballinger Wing, Ed Mell: In the Studio sheds light on the acclaimed artist’s process and career

PHOENIX (October 20, 2025) – On November 28, 2025, Phoenix Art Museum premieres Ed Mell: In the Studio as part of the reopening celebrations of the institution’s Art of the Americas + Europe galleries in the newly dedicated James K. Ballinger Wing. Offering unprecedented insight into Mell’s process as well as the artist’s final paintings, the exhibition presents for the first time a selection of oil studies and works on paper made by the beloved Arizona artist from 1974 through 2023, many of which have never been on view to the public.   

“Phoenix Art Museum is thrilled to unveil a remarkable selection of works by Ed Mell, bringing his vision to our audiences at the Museum,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “Throughout his illustrious career, Mell has captivated art lovers by masterfully portraying the breathtaking landscapes of Arizona, leaving an indelible mark on a generation of artists. This exhibition invites visitors to explore the intimate evolution of his artistry within the studio. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Edmund Paul Mell, Jr Trust, gallery, and family for their invaluable partnership in presenting this extraordinary display to our community.”

Born in Phoenix, Ed Mell (1942–2024) graduated from the ArtCenter College of Design in Los Angeles in 1967 before moving to New York, where he worked as an ad agency art director and, in partnership with Arizona artist Skip Andrews, formed a freelance illustration studio called Sagebrush Studios. In 1973, Mell permanently relocated to Phoenix in 1973 and, by 1978, had fully devoted himself to landscape painting. For more than 50 years, he immersed himself in Arizona’s arts community, establishing his studio just blocks away from Phoenix Art Museum. Throughout his career, the artist became known for his use of vibrant color and angular compositions, and while his paintings of monumental cloud formations, geologic strata, and distinctive desert life have been extensively collected and viewed nationwide, he chose to retain many small paintings and works on paper for his personal collection, rarely selling or exhibiting them.

Ed Mell: In the Studio publicly showcases for the first time many of these oil studies and works on paper, including those left behind in Mell’s studio at the time of his death in 2024. The works in small scale served as preludes to larger studies and even larger finished canvases, and presented alongside select archival materials, including personalized insight from Ken Richardson, the Ed Mell Gallery Director, audiences experience the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the artist’s intent, evolution and resolute commitment to abstraction and capturing the desert environs of Arizona. 

“This mini survey, which focuses on Ed Mell’s process studies, offers museumgoers an unprecedented opportunity to see how Mell created his compositions,” said Olga Viso, the Museum’s Selig Family Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs who curated the exhibition. “Visitors will be able to view multiple states of the same composition side-by-side and observe striking connections between some of Mell’s earliest experiments from the 1970s and his final canvases. The retrospective look affirms Mell’s lifelong commitment to abstraction and reveals a more minimal and abstract artist than audiences familiar with Mell might recognize.”

For high-resolution imagery and to request interviews, please contact the Communications Office at press@phxart.org. 

About the Exhibition

The inaugural installation of the James K. Ballinger Wing, an initiative honoring the historic collections of Phoenix Art Museum and the visionary leadership of Director Emeritus James K. Ballinger, was made possible by generous gifts from the Virginia M. Ullman Foundation and the Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation. Additional support was provided by the Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation, Cathie Lemon, the Men’s Arts Council, and Harry and Rose Papp. 

Ed Mell: In the Studio in the Woodyard Gallery is organized by Phoenix Art Museum and curated by Olga Viso, the Selig Family Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs. It is presented by the Kemper & Ethel Marley Foundation. 

All exhibitions at Phoenix Art Museum are underwritten by the Phoenix Art Museum Exhibition Excellence Fund, founded by The Opatrny Family Foundation with additional major support provided by Joan Cremin. 

Entrance into Ed Mell: In the Studio is included in general admission for the public. Admission is free for Museum Members and youth aged 5 and younger. Visitors may also enjoy reduced admission to the exhibition during voluntary-donation times on Wednesdays from 3 – 8 pm, made possible by SRP and City of Phoenix, and First Fridays from 5 – 8 pm, made possible by APS and Lexus, with additional support from Arizona Community Foundation. For a full breakdown of general admission prices and hours, see phxart.org/visit/.

About Phoenix Art Museum

Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) has engaged millions of visitors with the art of our region and world. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, PhxArt creates spaces of exchange and belonging for all audiences through dynamic exhibitions, collections, and experiences with art. Each year, 300,000 guests on average engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 21,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern, and contemporary art and fashion, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in Tucson. PhxArt also presents live performances, outstanding examples of global cinema, arts-education programs and workshops, a monthly live-music series, and more for the community. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.##