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FEATURED EVENTS
Back-to-School Summer Special
Phoenix Art Museum is offering a Back-to-School Summer Special with $5 youth admission for the rest of August. This discount is available on-site only.

PhxArt AfterHours
September 6 | 5 – 9 pm
Complimentary general admission
SPECIAL-EXHIBITION TICKETS: $10 for Adults | $5 for Youth (6-17)
PhxArt AfterHours returns, activated by free general admission, live music, art-making workshops, and specialty food and drink experiences celebrating the opening of The Collection: 1960-Now. Programming includes:

• Music by DJentrification (@djents)
• Papel picado workshop with artist Guadalupe Hernandez (@lupehernandez_art)
• In-gallery sketching with artist Aileen Martinez (@look.see.draw)
• Lemon Library pop-up
• Bilingual Docent Tours in Katz 1 and Art of Asia galleries
• Specialty food and beverage experiences with ARTenders, El Fogón de Joy (@elfogondejoy), Bonzai Boyz (@bonzaiboyzft), and Harlem Coffee (@drinkharlem)

PhxArt AfterHours are made possible through the generosity of APS and Lexus.

NOW OPEN
The Collection: 1960 – Now
Ongoing
PhxArt has re-opened its contemporary art galleries after completing the space’s first renovation in nearly 20 years.The newest installation The Collection: 1960 – Now showcases large-scale paintings, installations, digital and new media works, assemblages, and more that explore materiality and the modern evolution of self-expression, with a specific focus on artists who have been historically overlooked, including women and artists of color. The expansive display is organized in thematic groupings that consider how artists across generations expand and unravel the legacies of 20th-century art movements such as Abstract Expressionism, Light and Space, Transcendentalism, Pop, Minimalism, and Conceptual art. It also premieres a new site-specific work—Number 411 (2024)—by Leonardo Drew, the Museum’s first commission in more than a decade.

The Collection: 1960 – Now is organized by Phoenix Art Museum and curated by Christian Ramírez, The Cohn Assistant Curator of Contemporary and Community Art Initiatives, Olga Viso, The Selig Family Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs, and Rachel Sadvary Zebro, Associate Curator of Collections. 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. 

OPENING SOON
The Collection: Art of Asia
September 6 – ongoing

Exchanges East and West
Drawn primarily from the PhxArt Collection, Exchanges East and West explores a rich period of cross-cultural exchange within Asia and with Europe and the Americas from the 16th through the 20th centuries. During this period, several Asian ceramic production centers made wares to be exported to faraway lands, including the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Through the increasing reach of European trading companies, demand from foreign markets and personalized commissions led to the production of wares featuring hybridized forms, European and colonial scenes, and even familial armorial designs for dinnerware, as well as garnitures and figurines.

Divinity and Devotion in Tibet
Divinity and Devotion in Tibet explores the art forms that distinguish Tibetan Buddhist art from similar art forms of other regions. Featured works include bronze sculpture of sacred manifestations of deities, ornamented manuscripts, masks worn for religious theatrical events, and objects of personal adornment and protection. The exhibition also showcases iconic embellishments of turquoise and coral, colors that have become emblematic of the region’s practice.

The Collection: Art of Asia is organized by Phoenix Art Museum and curated by Colin Pearson, Consultant Curator for Asian art. The Collection: Art of Asia is made possible through the generosity of the Papp Family Foundation. Divinity and Devotion in Tibet is made possible through the generosity of the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter 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.

Chardi Kala: Rising Above Adversity
September 6 – ongoing
The Punjabi phrase chardi kala expresses the concept of unwavering optimism, even in the face of hardship. The idea of maintaining a positive mindset is a crucial tenet of the Sikh faith, but that positivity is not meant to be a passive state of being, but rather a never-ending opportunity for believers to shape the world around them through service. This installation explores the concept of chardi kala through contemporary artworks depicting some of the collective hardships endured by Sikh communities and the ways that they continually work to improve the society they live in.

Chardi Kala: Rising Above Adversity is organized by Phoenix Art Museum and curated by Colin Pearson, Adjunct Curator for Asian art. 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.

CLOSING SOON
Multiple Realities: Experimental Art in the Eastern Bloc, 1960s–1980s
Closing September 15, 2024
Tracing how a generation of artists used experimentation to negotiate different conditions for daily life and art-making behind the Iron Curtain.

Multiple Realities: Experimental Art in the Eastern Bloc, 1960s-1980s is organized by the Walker Art Center with major support provided by Martha and Bruce Atwater. Exhibition research was supported by a curatorial fellowship from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. The exhibition is curated by Pavel S. Pyś, Curator of Visual Arts and Collections Strategy, at Walker Art Center. Its presentation at Phoenix Art Museum is coordinated by Rachel Sadvary Zebro, Associate Curator for Collections. The presentation of Multiple Realities: Experimental Art in the Eastern Bloc, 1960s-1980s at Phoenix Art Museum is made possible through the generosity of The Opatrny Family Foundation, Joan Cremin, Men’s Arts Council, and Diana and Mark Feldman. 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. In-kind support provided by Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix and KJZZ/KBACH.

For a full list of exhibitions on view now at Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org/art/exhibitions/.

OTHER EVENTS
KIDS // Storytime
September 5 | 10:30 am
Free for Members | Included in general admission for the general public
Advance registration recommended.
For more information, click here.

Storytime is made possible by the Angela and Leonard Singer Endowment for Performing Arts, The Discount Tire Endowment for Children’s Art Programs, the William Randolph Hearst Endowed Fund for Education Programs, and Legacy Traditional Schools.

LEARN // Object of the Month: Number 411 by Leonardo Drew
September 5, 7, 19, 26 | 11:30 am
Free for Members | Included with general admission for the general public
For more information, click here.

FILM // PhxArt x Lisa Sette Gallery Summer Film Series: Politics, People, and Society / The Monk and the Gun
September 8 | 1 pm
Free for Members | $8 for the general public
Presented in Whiteman Hall. Limited capacity.
Tickets are available for reservation here.

This film series is made possible by the Lisa Sette Gallery.

WORKSHOP // PhxArt Educator Workshop: Investing in Futures – Design Your World
September 11 | 5 – 7:30 pm
Free for Members | $10 for Non-Members
Tickets are available for reservation here.

FILM // Now Showing: City of God (Cidade de Deus)
September 15 | 1 pm
Free for Members | $8 for the general public
Presented in Whiteman Hall. Limited capacity.
Tickets available for reservation here.

Films@PhxArt is made possible by Fit Via Vi Films.

LEARN // Lemon Library Lecture: ‘90s Fashion Resources
September 21 | Noon
Free for Members and the general public
Presented in Lemon Art Research Library
For more information, click here.

LEARN // Lemon Library Book Club: Champagne Supernovas
September 21 | 1:30 pm
Free for Members and the general public
Presented in Lemon Art Research Library
For more information, click here.

FREE-ACCESS PROGRAMS
Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesdays
Every Wednesday | 3 – 9 pm
Voluntary-donation general admission
SPECIAL-EXHIBITION TICKETS: $10 for adults | $5 for youth under 17 | FREE for Museum Members and Maricopa County Community College students*

Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesdays are made possible by SRP and City of Phoenix.

Free Admission for Maricopa County Community Colleges Students
All Maricopa County Community Colleges students who attend any of the 10 colleges or affiliated skill centers 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.

Blue Star Museums
From U.S. Armed Forces Day (May 18, 2024) through Labor Day (effective September 1, 2024), active-duty military personnel, including the National Guard and Reserves, and their families can enjoy free admission to Phoenix Art Museum through the Blue Star Museums program. Complimentary admission extends to special-engagement exhibitions. An active ID is required.

The Blue Star Museums program at Phoenix Art Museum is made possible through the generosity of Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Arizona and Shamrock Farms.

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 design, 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, an art+music festival, and more for the community. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880. 

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For a full list of exhibitions on view now at Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org/art/exhibitions/.

CLOSING SOON
Art of Asia and Khanuja Family Sikh Heritage galleries
Closing May 28, 2023
The Museum will close its Art of Asia wing on May 28 for summer renovation in preparation of the upcoming fall rotation. The following exhibitions will close during this time period:

• Beauty and Function: Japanese Folk Art from the Mayro-Strelitz Collection
• Demonic, Divine, Human: Japan’s Noh Theater
• Exquisite Enamels: Gifts of Japanese Cloisonné from Waynor and Laurie Rogers
• A Tradition Redefined: Gifts from the Li Family Collection of Chinese Painting
• Gods and Mortals: Arts of India
• Princely States of the Punjab: Sikh Art and History

OPENING SOON
William Herbert “Buck” Dunton: A Mainer Goes West
June 17, 2023 – June 30, 2024
William Herbert “Buck” Dunton: A Mainer Goes West celebrates the legacy of the Taos Society of Artists’ (TSA) resident “cowboy painter.” Founded in 1915, the TSA was the central group to create and popularize images of the Southwest. Dunton enjoyed commercial and critical success, exhibiting works at the National Academy of Design, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the 1924 Venice Biennale, among other achievements. Featuring some of Dunton’s most significant works, the exhibition provides an intimate look at the American artist, including a selection of paintings drawn from the Museum’s collection, creating a dialogue between his own practice and those of his peers and collaborators.

William Herbert “Buck” Dunton: A Mainer Goes West is organized by Phoenix Art Museum and the Harwood Museum of Art. It is guest curated by Michael K. Komanecky, Independent Curator and Art Historian, and Betsy Fahlman, Adjunct Curator of American Art, Phoenix Art Museum, with additional curation by Nicole Dial-Kay, Harwood Curator of Exhibitions and Collections. The exhibition’s presentation at Phoenix Art Museum is made possible through the generosity of Supporting Sponsors Men’s Arts Council and Carl and Marilynn Thoma, with additional support from Kimpton Hotel Palomar.

ON VIEW NOW
Juan Francisco Elso: Por América
Through September 17, 2023
Juan Francisco Elso: Por América explores the significant career of the late Cuban artist, whose sculptures and installations examine the complexities of contemporary Cuban, Caribbean, and Latin American identities. Fashioned from natural, organic materials, featured works draw influence from Indigenous traditions, Afro-Caribbean religious beliefs, and the traumas of colonial oppression and are placed in conversation with paintings, sculptures and more by a group of 30 multigenerational artists active in the Caribbean and throughout North, South, and Central America. Through this contextual approach, the traveling survey illuminates Elso’s legacy and articulates a more expansive idea of the Americas, free of geopolitical borders and boundaries.

Juan Francisco Elso: Por América is organized by El Museo del Barrio and guest curated by Olga Viso, curator-at-large at Phoenix Art Museum and senior advisor at Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, in collaboration with Susanna V. Temkin, curator at El Museo del Barrio. The exhibition is made possible thanks to major support from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Commissions are made possible by VIA Art Fund and the Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation. Its presentation at Phoenix Art Museum is made possible through the generosity of Partner Sponsors Sue and Bud Selig and Supporting Sponsors Men’s Arts Council, The Opatrny Family Foundation, the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Exhibition Endowment Fund, and the Joan Cremin Exhibition Endowment, with additional support from Kimpton Hotel Palomar.

Lo que es, es lo que ha sido/What It Is, Is What Has Been: Selections from the ASU Art Museum’s Cuban Art Collection
Through September 17, 2023
Lo que es, es lo que ha sido/What It Is, Is What Has Been: Selections from the ASU Art Museum’s Cuban Art Collection features artworks created during Cuba’s “Special Period” to explore artistic expression during times of humanitarian crises and social upheaval. The exhibition is the first collaboration between PhxArt and ASU Art Museum in more than a decade.

Lo que es, es lo que ha sido/ What It Is, Is What Has Been: Selections from the ASU Art Museum’s Cuban Art Collection is organized by Phoenix Art Museum and ASU Art Museum and curated by Olga Viso, curator-at-large at PhxArt and senior advisor at Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, and Julio César Morales, executive director and co-chief curator of MoCA Tucson. The exhibition is made possible through the generosity of the Museum’s Circles of Support and Museum Members.

Reynier Leyva Novo: Methuselah
Through October 1, 2023
Methuselah (2021–2022) by Cuban artist Reynier Leyva Novo is a mixed-reality artwork that follows a butterfly avatar along its journey from Mexico, across the United States, and into southern Canada as part of the species’ annual reproductive cycle. On-site visitors will experience the Monarch’s movements and behaviors in a shared environment using a holographic device. Additionally, Methuselah is hosted and reproduced in real-time on a dedicated website so that users across the world with internet access can experience the work at any time.

Methuselah is commissioned by El Museo del Barrio through the generous support of VIA Art Fund. The project is presented in relation to the exhibition Juan Francisco Elso: Por América, which is organized by El Museo del Barrio and made possible thanks to major support from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.

FEATURED JUNE EVENTS
Creative Saturday
June 10 | 11 – 2 pm
Free for Members | Included with general admission to the general public
Kick-off summer with art-making activities, performances, and hands-on experiences for visitors of all ages and abilities. Check out fashion-design exhibition MOVE: The Modern Art of Geoffrey Beene and create wearable fashion accessories with Phoenix-based artist Kyllan Maney. Discover mixed reality artwork Reynier Leyva Novo: Methuselah and investigate a monarch’s life cycle, migration journey, and wing patterns with biologist and Phoenix College professor Jon Douglas. Explore Juan Francisco Elso: Por América through music with live performances by Bolivian pianist Masaru Sakuma, featuring selections from Cuba and across Latin America. 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.

Exclusive Exhibition Tour: Lo que es, es lo que ha sido/What It Is, Is What Has Been: Selections from the ASU Art Museum’s Cuban Art Collection
June 21 | 5 – 5:45 pm
Free for Members | Included with general admission to the general public
Limited capacity. Advanced reservation recommended
Join exhibition curators Olga Viso, PhxArt curator-at-large and senior advisor on curatorial affairs, and Julio César Morales, executive director and co-chief curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Tucson for an exclusive tour of Lo que es, es lo que ha sido/What It Is, Is What Has Been: Selections from the ASU Art Museum’s Cuban Art Collection. The exhibition complements special-engagement exhibition Juan Francisco Elso: Por América. Together, the two exhibitions explore artistic expression during times of humanitarian crises and social upheaval. For more information, click here.

Film Screening + Artist Talk: Sandra Ramos
June 21 | 6 – 7:30 pm
Free for Members | $5 for the general public
Presented in Whiteman Hall
Discover the life and practice of Cuban contemporary painter, printmaker, and installation artist Sandra Ramos, who explores nationality, gender, and identity in her work by drawing from her own experiences living in and migrating out of Cuba. Join PhxArt for viewings of five animated short films by Ramos that examine the complexities of daily life, migration, and gender politics in Cuba. Ramos created the series in the years leading up to her 2014 exile. In them, the protagonists imagine many pathways to survive and escape.

Following the screenings, hear from the artist in conversation with Olga Viso, exhibition curator of Juan Francisco Elso: Por América and PhxArt curator-at-large and senior advisor on curatorial affairs, and Julio César Morales, executive director and co-chief curator of Museum of Contemporary Art, Tucson. Tickets are available for reservation here.

Performing Arts Programming at Phoenix Art Museum is made possible in part by the generosity of the Angela and Leonard Singer Endowment for Performing Arts.

OTHER EVENTS
Object of the Month: Isla jugando a la Guerra (Island Playing at Way) by José Bedia
June 1, 15, 22, 29 | 11:30 am
Free for Members | Included with general admission for the general public
Cuban artist José Media’s circular canvas represents a female figure as an island, surrounded by an ocean of concentric circles and comments on encounters between cultures and Cuba’s geopolitical position in the world. Join Charlotte Quinney, Interpretation Manager at PhxArt, to explore how this work juxtaposes the past and present, natural and human-made, mythological and real, on view in Migration Stories: Arizona Collects Cuban Art. For more information, click here.

Weekly Virtual Mindfulness Sessions
June 1, 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.

Lemon Art Research Library Book Club: Design Motifs of Ancient Mexico and Traditional African Designs
June 17 | 1:30 pm
Free for Members and the general public
Presented in the Lemon Art Research Library
Join librarian Jesse Lopez for the next installment of the Lemon Art Research Library Book Club, Design Motifs of Ancient Mexico by Jorge Encisco and Traditional African Designs by Gregory Mirow. The selection of this book is inspired by special-engagement exhibition Juan Francisco Elso: Por América and will discuss how these Dover Publications illustrated art books can be a resourceful tool for royalty free images and references. For more information, click here.

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, Maricopa County Community College students*, and ASU 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.
**Arizona State University Students will enjoy free general admission to PhxArt from May 6 through September 17, 2023, including admission into special-engagement exhibitions. Visitors must present an active student ID at the time of admission.

PhxArt AfterHours
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.

PhxArt Family Fundays
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.

Educator Arts Day
August 26
9 am – 4 pmComplimentary admission for Arizona educatorsJoin us for a free day of celebrating arts integrated learning at Phoenix Art Museum’s Educator Arts Day + Cultural Resource Fair. We are thrilled to welcome educators back on campus for this beloved event. Tickets include engaging professional development workshops, access to a cultural resource fair featuring more than 30 organizations, opportunities to network with educators across Arizona, continuing education credit certificate, and much more! More information available soon at phxart.org.  

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 Safwat Saleem and Selina A. Scott, 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.

The post Phoenix Art Museum to premiere new American art exhibition; hosts in-person programming inspired by exhibition Juan Francisco Elso: Por América in June appeared first on Phoenix Art Museum.

PHOENIX (November 27, 2021) –This fall, Phoenix Art Museum presents The Golden Temple: Center of Sikh Faith. Featuring approximately 20 photographs, watercolor paintings, prints, and more created by Indian, American, and European artists over two centuries, the exhibition celebrates the enduring splendor of Sikhism’s central monument and place of worship, located in India. Audiences will be introduced to various artistic and architectural elements from the Sikh, Hindu, and Muslim traditions while discovering how the design of the temple reflects the tenets of Sikhism, including the belief that all creation is equal, transcending social distinctions such as caste, creed, gender, or circumstance. The Golden Temple: Center of Sikh Faith is on view from November 27, 2021 through April 24, 2022 in the Khanuja Family Sikh Heritage Gallery.

“We are delighted to share The Golden Temple: Center of Sikh Faith with our community,” said Mark Koenig, the Interim Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum. “This exhibition is a unique opportunity for viewers to not only deepen their knowledge on the history and culture of Sikhism but to learn about and intimately examine a range of design and architectural elements evident in this exquisite structure at the heart of the Sikh faith.”

Located in what is today the city of Amritsar in the Punjab state of northwestern India, the Golden Temple is the centralized place of worship for all Sikhs. The idea for the spiritual monument was conceived by Guru Arjan Sahib (1563–1606), the fifth Sikh Guru. Early preparations for the site began in 1577, while construction on the building began in 1588, when, according to Sikh history, Mian Mir, a Sufi Muslim saint, laid the cornerstone as a mark of interfaith collaboration. The Guru’s design for the Golden Temple placed the monument at the center, while a causeway connected the sacred structure to a circumambulatory path. Doors on the temple’s four sides symbolized the accessibility of the Sikh faith, which makes no distinction between the four Hindu castes. Builders completed construction in 1601, but through the decades, the Golden Temple was destroyed several times by invaders. The present structure dates to 1764, and renovations over the centuries introduced various design elements. The temple’s upper floors, for example, are now covered in 750 kilograms, or just under one ton, of pure gold, an addition made by Maharaja Ranjit Singh, founder of the Sikh Empire of India (1799–1849).

Spanning the 19th through the 21st centuries, The Golden Temple: Center of Sikh Faith features historical and contemporary works depicting the renowned site, including images by Italian-English photographer Felice Beato, one of the first photographers to capture images of Asia. The exhibition also features watercolors, prints, and paintings by Indian and American artists who have visited the temple, culminating with works by both Sikh and non-Sikh contemporary artists whose visual narratives draw inspiration from the Golden Temple’s intricate design.

Of particular note are two contemporary works: a print by The Singh Twins, British artists who fuse traditional Indian and contemporary Western influences in works they label “past modern,” and a pigmented work on paper by Rupy C. Tut, a Punjabi Sikh artist based in Northern California who blends calligraphy and Indian miniature painting. The Singh Twins’ work depicts the story of Bibi Rajani and her husband, who had leprosy, today known as Hansen’s disease. The tale dates back to the time of the founding of the town of Amritsar, where the Golden Temple is located. In the work, viewers see Bibi Rajani and her husband next to the Dukh Bhajani Beri, a jujube tree that survives today. Also featured in the composition is a crow transforming into a swan, symbolizing the traditional Sikh belief in the healing power of both the sacred tree and the water surrounding the Golden Temple.

Tut’s 2020 work entitled Darshan, on the other hand, visualizes the phenomena of the same name. Darshan are blessed visions, revelations, or acts of perceiving the Guru, whose depiction is influenced by historical, contemporary, and personal narratives about individual experiences at the Golden Temple. These visions are experienced by devotees of various ages, genders, statuses, and levels of faith. Because they occur across a range of believers, darshan effectively erase or blur superficial or worldly differences, uniting those of disparate backgrounds through a shared experience of the divine.

“The Golden Temple has been a favorite subject of both historical and contemporary artists for more than 400 years because of its harmonious blending of Sikh, Hindu, and Muslim architectural traditions,” said Janet Baker, PhD, the Museum’s curator of Asian art. “Through the varied views represented in The Golden Temple: Center of Sikh Faith, visitors will enjoy a rich portrait of this distinctive monument, marked by a stunning sacred pool, gilded domes, marble balustrades, murals of floral and mythological motifs, and decorative elements made of jewels, mirrors, ivory, and glass. Viewers will also be able to discern how the structure has continued to transform over time, its splendor indelible.”

The Golden Temple: Center of Sikh Faith is presented in the Khanuja Family Sikh Heritage Gallery, one of only two galleries in the United States dedicated exclusively to the exhibition of Sikh art. The exhibition continues the Museum’s initiative to showcase artwork and objects that bring the world to Phoenix, introducing the community to works of art from diverse cultures.

About the Exhibition

The Golden Temple: Center of Sikh Faith is on view November 27, 2021 through April 24, 2022 in the Khanuja Family Sikh Heritage Gallery. The exhibition is organized by Phoenix Art Museum. It is made possible through the generosity of the Sikh Heritage Fund, with additional support from the Museum’s Circles of Support and Museum Members.

Admission is free for Museum Members, U.S. veterans and active-duty military and their families, and youth 5 and younger. Entrance to the exhibition is included in general admission for the general public. During voluntary-donation times, the exhibition is offered to the general public with pay-what-you-wish admission. Voluntary-donation times include Wednesdays from 3 – 7 pm and the first Friday of each month from 3 – 7 pm. For a full breakdown of general admission prices and hours, see phxart.org/visit/.

To request interviews and high-resolution photography, contact the Communications Office of Phoenix Art Museum at 602.257.2105 or samantha.andreacchi@phxart.org.

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 350,000 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.

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PHOENIX (October 27, 2021) –This fall,Arizona audiences will have the unparalleled opportunity to experience a selection of rare and outstanding Sri Lankan artworks—many of which have never been publicly exhibited—in Legacy of Ceylon: Art and Photography of Sri Lanka at Phoenix Art Museum. The latest exhibition in the Museum’s Art of Asia galleries will feature more than 50 artworks that date from as early as the sixth century and span 1,000 years, illuminating the influence of Buddhist and European traditions on the nation’s art history. Featured objects including technically refined and solid bronze sculptures, paintings, and original black-and-white photographs that were only recently discovered. Legacy of Ceylon: Art and Photography of Sri Lanka will be on view from November 27, 2021 through April 24, 2022.

“We are excited to present Legacy of Ceylon: Art and Photography of Sri Lanka to our audiences in Arizona,” said Mark Koenig, the Interim Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum. “This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity for visitors to experience some of the rarest examples of Sri Lankan art in the United States, while also discovering an intimate view into life on the island nation during the mid-1900s.  This collection of outstanding documentary photographs will enjoy their world premiere in the Museum’s Art of Asia galleries.”

The island nation of Sri Lanka, formerly known has Ceylon, has a deep history spanning more than 3,000 years, with a culture influenced by nearly every major human civilization and dominant world power, including the Persian Empire, Ancient Greece, Rome, and the European world. Buddhism, which originated in northwestern India, found a home on the island approximately 2,000 years ago and has since maintained a strong influence on the nation’s culture. Beginning in the late 16th century, the island entered a long period of colonial rule, beginning with the Portuguese in 1597. Then in 1640, the Dutch colonized the island, followed by the British in 1815. The British largely supported the Buddhist theocracy maintained under the Kings of Kandy, the last indigenous monarchy to rule the central and eastern portion of Ceylon from the end of the 16th century into the 19th century, when the British officially took power. Ceylon finally achieved independence in 1948, followed by a period of insurrections and civil war. In 1972, a constitutional republic was established, which led to the naming of a new nation, Sri Lanka.

Through more than 50 artworks created over 1,000 years, Legacy of Ceylon: Art and Photography of Sri Lanka provides insight into this expansive history, allowing Arizona audiences to see for themselves how works from the island nation have been influenced by Buddhist and European cultures. The majority of featured works, dating from the 16th through the 19th centuries, are drawn from the Museum’s dynamic collection of Sri Lankan art, amassed through the generosity of several donors including, most notably, Arizona collectors Drs. Coleene and Barry Fernando, the latter of whom was born in Sri Lanka and immigrated with his family to the United States in 1957. Exhibition highlights include paintings, palanquins, and other rare and outstanding objects, as well as technically refined and large solid-bronze sculptures—some of which weigh as much as 50 lbs.

“Sri Lanka has a diverse history and a very multifaceted cultural influence,” said Janet Baker, PhD, the Museum’s curator of Asian art. “Through works in Legacy of Ceylon: Art and Photography of Sri Lanka, which features works from both the Museum’s collection and the Fernando family’s private collection, it is possible to trace, for example, how Buddhist bronze-casting techniques and aesthetics evolved over 1,000 years. When Buddhism first came to Sri Lanka in the third century, artisans and artists made small, technically refined sculptures. Over time, that technique evolved and reached its apex in the 17th and 18th centuries. Visitors will be able to see that evolution through works spanning a millennia.”

Legacy of Ceylon: Art and Photography of Sri Lanka also premieres original black-and-white photographs by Quintus Fernando, PhD, who passed away in 2004. These photographs, which were only recently discovered, were taken just prior to the Fernando family’s emigration from Sri Lanka. These works will be exhibited to the public for the first time and depict simple, everyday slices of mid-20th century life, as well as Buddhist ruins and other iconic locations. With these photographs displayed alongside works of historical significance, the exhibition offers deep insight into pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial life on the island nation.

About the Exhibition

Legacy of Ceylon: Art and Photography of Sri Lanka will be on view from November 27, 2021 through April 24, 2022 in the Art of Asia galleries. The exhibition is organized by Phoenix Art Museum and made possible through the generosity of the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, with additional support from the Museum’s Circles of Support and Museum Members. For more details about the exhibition, please visit phxart.org/exhibition/legacy-of-ceylon/.

Admission is free for Museum Members; veterans, active-duty military, and their immediate families; and youth aged 5 and younger. Entrance into the exhibition is included in general admission for the general public. During voluntary-donation times, the exhibition is offered to the general public with pay-what-you-wish admission. Voluntary-donation times include Wednesdays from 3 – 7 pm and the first Friday of each month from 3 – 7 pm. For a full breakdown of general-admission prices and hours, see phxart.org/visit/.

High-resolution photography can be downloaded here. To request interviews, contact the Communications Office of Phoenix Art Museum at 602.257.2105 or samantha.andreacchi@phxart.org.

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.

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