Dec, 07, 2022
Media Alerts
Phoenix Art Museum unveils new Art of Asia exhibitions; hosts virtual and in-person programs in December
PHOENIX (December 7, 2022) – This December, Phoenix Art Museum will host virtual programs and free in-person events, including Storytime in the Galleries, a Make It! workshop, a National Theatre Live simulcast, and much more. The Art of Asia galleries feature a new winter rotation of installations.
For a full list of exhibitions on view now at Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org/art/exhibitions/.
PHXART HOLIDAY HOURS
- Christmas Eve (Saturday, December 24) – Open 10 – 3 PM
- Christmas Day (Sunday, December 25) – CLOSED
- Monday, December 26 – Open 10 – 5 PM
- New Year’s Eve (Saturday, December 31) – Open 10 – 3 PM
- New Year’s Day (Sunday, January 1) – CLOSED
- Monday, January 2 – Open 10 – 5 PM
ON VIEW NOW
Mr.: You Can Hear the Song of This Town
Through March 12, 2023
Mr.: You Can Hear the Song of this Town at Phoenix Art Museum is the first U.S. solo exhibition in eight years to exclusively showcase 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 drawings and paintings created during the height of the pandemic, a recent Museum acquisition, and 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.
Demonic, Divine, Human: Japan’s Noh Theater
Through November 19, 2023
A form of classical Japanese theatre, Noh combines music, religious performance, dance, and drama. This exhibition showcases various Noh masks and the work of print artists who conveyed scenes of divine, demonic, and animal characters drawn from Noh plays. Presented at the same time as Mr.: You Can Hear the Song of This Town, Demonic, Divine, Human allows visitors to draw connections between Mr.’s anime- and manga-inspired characters, which represent a wider reflection on solitude, social anxiety, and fear within Japanese society, and the characters created by Noh writers.
Demonic, Divine, Human: Japan’s Noh Theater is organized by Phoenix Art Museum. It is made possible through the generosity of the Museum’s Circles of Support and Museum Members.
Exquisite Enamels: Gifts of Japanese Cloisonné from Waynor and Laurie Rogers
Through November 19, 2023
Artists began creating cloisonné centuries ago in the Middle East and Egypt, and from there, techniques spread to China and Japan. Utilizing fine wires and glass paste, cloisonné artists created richly colored surface patterns on a variety of objects. This exhibition showcases significant examples of Japanese cloisonné from the 19th century, when cloisonné enamel techniques peaked on the island nation and wares became a successful export. Along with Mr: You Can Hear the Song of This Town, Exquisite Enamels illuminates how Japanese artists have long combined outside cultural influences with traditional art forms to create new styles that are rooted in history but with a modern outlook.
Exquisite Enamels: Gifts of Japanese Cloisonné from Waynor and Laurie Rogers is organized by Phoenix Art Museum. It is made possible through the generosity of the Museum’s Circles of Support and Museum Members.
Beauty and Function: Japanese Folk Art from the Mayro-Stelitz Collection
Through November 19, 2023
In 1920s Japan, philosophers and craftspeople created the concept of mingei, or folk art, to challenge the narrow definition of art and uplift the beauty of everyday objects created by average people. In this exhibition, various traditional, everyday objects from Japan are on view to the public for the first time, including pictorial shop signs, firefighter coats, futon covers, samurai helmets, and ceramic and metal utensils that feature folk motifs and symbolic designs. Presented at the same time as Mr.: You Can Hear the Song of This Town, Beauty and Function allows visitors to discover how Mr.’s works and historical Japanese folk art each challenge traditional definitions of fine art and reflect popular imagery from the time in which they were created.
Beauty and Function: Japanese Folk Art from the Mayro-Stelitz Collection is organized by Phoenix Art Museum. It is made possible through the generosity of the Papp Family Foundation and the The Mayro-Strelitz Collection.
Gods and Mortals: Arts of India
Through November 19, 2023
Spanning a millennium, paintings and sculptures in this exhibition showcase the sensuous deities of Hinduism, including Vishnu and Shiva; the heroes of Sanskrit literary epics; and the princes of the royal Mughal court. Works by Jamini Roy, India’s master painter of the 20th century, are also on display and depict India’s people.
Gods and Mortals: Arts of India is organized by Phoenix Art Museum. It is made possible through the generosity of the Museum’s Circles of Support and Museum Members.
Princely States of the Punjab: Sikh Art and History
Through November 19, 2023
In the 19th century, the Sikh empire flourished in the Punjab region of northwest India. Ruled by locals in alliance with the British Raj, these states and their palatial courts attracted artists, poets, and musicians. This latest exhibition in the Khanuja Family Sikh Heritage Gallery illuminates the regal stature of the period’s Sikh rulers through examples of state portraiture, precious jewelry, and military photography.
Princely States of the Punjab: Sikh Art and History is organized by Phoenix Art Museum. It is made possible through the generosity of The Sikh Heritage Fund.
DECEMBER 2022 EVENTS
Object of the Month: Unwritten: Dylan and Unwritten: CJ by Rebecca Campbell
December 15, 22, 29 | 11:30 am
Free for Members | Included with general admission for the general public
Portraiture has long been one of the most popular forms of art throughout history. Whether showcasing power or personality, individual portraits examine what it means to be human and an individual. Take a closer look at two intimately arresting portraits of contemporary youth on view in Figural Variations with Docent Jeanne Sours to examine how artist Rebecca Campbell captures the nuances of the human face. For more information, click here.
Weekly Virtual Mindfulness Sessions
December 8, 15, 22, 29 | 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.
National Theatre Live: The Book of Dust – La Belle Sauvage
December 18 | 1 – 4 pm
$15 for Members | $20 for the general public
Presented in Whiteman Hall. Limited capacity.
Set 12 years before the epic His Dark Materials trilogy, this gripping adaptation revisits Philip Pullman’s fantastical world in which waters are rising and storms are brewing. Two young people and their dæmons, with everything at stake, find themselves at the center of a terrifying manhunt. Director Nicholas Hytner returns to Pullman’s parallel universe, captured live from the Bridge Theatre in London. Rated PG-13. Estimated runtime: 3 h. Tickets are available here.
National Theatre Live showings are made possible in part by the Angela and Leonard Singer Endowment for Performing Arts.
Make It! with Kelsey Phillips
December 21 | 4 – 7 pm
Open to the public during Pay-What-You-Wish-Wednesday
Gather inspiration from the exhibition Mr.: You Can Hear the Song of This Town and sketch your own manga faces with Phoenix-based artist Kelsey Phillips (@keymintt). Practice drawing eyes, facial expressions, distinctive manga hairstyles, and more! All materials will be provided. For more information, click here.
Make It! is made possible in part by Carolyn Dunkin Schulte Educational Endowment Fund, The Discount Tire Endowment for Children’s Art Programs, and William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fund for Education Programs.
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 Deborah Harris and Rembrandt Quiballo, 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.