PHOENIX (October 27, 2025) – On November 28, 2025, Phoenix Art Museum premieres George Elbert Burr: The Desert Etchings as part of the reopening celebrations of the institution’s Art of the Americas + Europe galleries in the newly dedicated James K. Ballinger Wing. Featuring 50 outstanding prints from the Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, the exhibition examines Burr’s practice and legacy, grounded in a commitment to depicting the high desert landscapes of Arizona, Colorado, and Southern California.  

“Phoenix Art Museum is excited to present an incredible selection of works by George Elbert Burr as part the historic renovation of the James K. Ballinger Wing,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “George Elbert Burr: The Desert Etchings will be presented in the Museum’s Orme Lewis Gallery, which is now dedicated to ongoing installations of prints and drawings—considered one of the largest yet least exhibited parts of the PhxArt Collection. Fittingly, the exhibition honors not just the desert landscapes of our region and the American West but also the legacy of an artist with deep ties to the history of Phoenix Art Museum.”

American painter and printmaker George Elbert Burr (1859–1939) was born in the Midwest and moved to New York City in 1888 to establish his career as a traveling illustrator. His work was published in popular magazines such as  Harper’s and  Frank Leslie’s Weekly, and in 1891, he served as illustrator and photographer on President Benjamin Harrison’s Western tour of the United States. After extensive travels in Europe, health challenges in 1906 led Burr to Denver, where he devoted himself to printmaking. In the winters, however, the artist visited the Southwest to make sketches, from which he produced his acclaimed “Desert Set.” In 1924, Burr moved to Phoenix and over time became deeply involved in the arts community. He eventually served as an instrumental figure in the founding of the Phoenix Fine Art Association and the community-building efforts that led to the establishment of Phoenix Art Museum in 1959. 

Throughout his prolific career, Burr created approximately 25,000 works from an estimated 367 plates. Despite such an extensive body of work—demonstrative of technical innovation and mastery—the artist remains less recognized than his European predecessors, including Albrecht Durër and Rembrandt van Rijn. George Elbert Burr: The Desert Etchingsoffers Arizona audiences the opportunity to discover a wide selection of Burr’s finely detailed prints that skillfully render resolutely American subjects.

“Burr was a technical genius capable of creating myriad effects through a variety of printmaking techniques,” said Olga Viso, the Museum’s Selig Family Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs, who curated the exhibition. “He could render the tiniest burrs and spikes of a barrel cactus or ocotillo branch with mind-bending exactitude while capturing the ethereal atmospheric conditions of a twilight sky, a sandstorm, cumulous clouds, or dirt devils moving slowly across the landscape. Visitors will be able to see the vast range of Burr’s impressive production as well as get up close to inspect individual prints with a magnifying glass.” 

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. 

George Elbert Burr: The Desert Etchings is organized by Phoenix Art Museum and curated by Olga Viso, the Selig Family Chief Curator and Director of Curatorial Affairs.

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 George Elbert Burr: The Desert Etchings  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.

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PHOENIX (July 16, 2025) – This summer, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) presents the Southwest premiere of Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection, showcasing a superlative collection of historically significant works from 17^th– and 18^th-century Florence that are rarely seen outside of Italy. The exhibition features gilded paintings and delicate sculptures that demonstrate the distinctive Florentine Baroque style, known for its poetic and colorful symbolism. Drawn from The Haukohl Collection, works feature dramatic and vibrant depictions of religious, classical, mythological, and allegorical narratives. The first exhibition of its kind in Arizona, Florentine Baroque is an unprecedented opportunity for regional audiences to unravel the legacy of many important Florentine artists of the period who contributed to the Tuscan city’s cultural legacy, most notably supported by the Medici Grand Dukes. Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection will be on view at PhxArt from August 28, 2025 – July 26, 2026. 

“Phoenix Art Museum is excited to present the Arizona and Southwest premiere of Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection,’” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “This exhibition offers a unique opportunity for our audiences to explore works from a specific place and art historical period that are not prominently represented in the Phoenix Art Museum Collection. Additionally, it is the only chance to view these stunning sculptures, paintings, and more in the Southwest. We are grateful to Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl for his partnership in bringing this collection to our visitors.”

Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection showcases more than 30 examples of large- and small-scale works from some of the most prominent artist families in Italy. Featuring work by Florentine artists who lived and produced across Europe, the collection was assembled over more than 40 years by Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl, a Houston-based art collector and co-founder of the Medici Archive Project. The exhibition at Phoenix Art Museum uncovers the splendor and significance of the Florentine Baroque art movement. Visitors to the exhibition will discover how Florentine Baroque works unite influences of Florentine tradition with Renaissance sensibilities, yielding a style that is at once sensuous and poetic. The rare display of works also provides the opportunity to examine the legacy of the House of Medici. The Medici Bank was founded in 1397 and for hundreds of years was the largest bank in Europe. The renowned Italian banking family eventually became one of the most influential families in European history, serving as the de facto rulers of the Republic of Florence through their financial patronage of advancements in art, banking, and architecture before taking political office in the 16^th century. The family’s lineage also includes four popes, thirteen cardinals, and various bishops. 

Florentine Baroque is organized into three distinct thematic sections. Faith, Strength, and Courage features depictions of Biblical narratives and religious figures that reference the dominant Catholic faith in Florence as well as the Renaissance interest in humanism, a classical movement that emphasized human values. Sacred Beauty, Fierce Devotion showcases portraits of saints, but unlike previous generations of artists, works by featured 17^th-century painters represent these pious figures as distinctly human rather than divine, with naturalistic forms, expressions, and mannerisms. Finally, Allegory, Gods, and Heroes presents mythological and allegorical figures and stories that reflect the intellectual, artistic, and moral ideals of the time, which was characterized by significant advancements in music, philosophy, science, and all the humanities. Undergirding each section is the marked influence of the Medici Grand Dukes of Florence, whose patronage of the arts fostered a wide range of artists in Italy and across Europe, including Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, and Donatello, among many other notable artists.

“The Haukohl Philanthropies are thrilled to be working with the experienced curatorial and management team of Phoenix Art Museum. We are delighted to loan the Medici Collection to the Museum for one year and work with the Arizona community to offer a wide range of special programs,” said Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl, co-founder of the Medici Archive Project. “The exhibition is dedicated in honor of my late cousin, Dr. Howard Somers Conant, Chair of the Art Department of New York University and later, Head of the Department of Art at the University of Arizona.” 

The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated 288-page catalogue, Beyond the Medici: The Haukohl Family Collection, which will be available for purchase in The Museum Store with editions in English, German, and Italian. The publication features paintings, drawings, textiles, and sculpture in the collection that document the Medici patronage and artists of the period. Particular attention is paid to the Dandini Family of painters—Cesare, Vincenzo, and Pier—each reviewed in depth along with a generous bibliography. Essays by Drs. Eike Schmidt, James Bradburn, Federico Berti, Fabio Sottili, and Francesco Scasciamacchia address a broad overview of collecting and history of the period.

Throughout the run of the exhibition, the Museum will host dynamic programs to provide deeper historical and social context to the featured artworks. The calendar of events includes:

August 27 | 10 am – 8 pm 
Members-Only Preview Day
PhxArt Members enjoy exclusive access to the exhibition before it opens to the public, with Docent presentations throughout the day. Member RSVP only.

September 4 | 10:30 – 11 am
Storytime in the Gallery 
Designed for the Museum’s youngest visitors (ages 0-5), this edition of Storytime will feature a book and art-making activity inspired by the Florentine Baroque art movement. Tickets available here.

September 6, 13, 20, 27 | 11 am – 3 pm
Create Playdate
Create Playdate offers young artists a variety of hands-on maker experiences every Saturday with the Museum’s mobile, in-gallery art cart. Throughout the month of September, discover themed activities inspired by the groundbreaking exhibition. No RSVP required.

December 18 | 6 – 7 pm
SOUNDCHECK
This holiday season, enjoy a live music performance in the Museum’s picturesque Dorrance Sculpture Garden inspired by Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection. SOUNDCHECK is the Museum’s new live-music series that brings popular local + regional acts to the Museum for raw, unmissable performances in our gallery spaces. Performer information and tickets forthcoming.

January 28 | 6 – 7 pm 
Carved Splendors: Florentine Baroque Frames at the Medici Court 
Hosted by FOCUS on European Art in partnership with Phoenix Art Museum, hear from Dr. Davide Gasparotto, Senior Curator of Paintings at the Getty Museum, who will discuss the gilded frames of the Florentine Baroque. Tickets forthcoming.

February 4 | 5 – 8 pm
Lemon Library Book Club + Lecture
Inspired by Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection, join Lemon Art Research Librarian Jesse Lopez for a book club discussion and lecture focused on The Beauty and the Terror by Catherine Fletcher. Book selection and tickets forthcoming. 

April 3 | 5 – 8 pm  
First Friday  
Enjoy exhibition tours, art-making activities, and more, all with pay-what-you-wish admission to the entire Museum, including Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection. Tickets forthcoming.

To receive high-resolution photography for Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection, contact the Communications Office of Phoenix Art Museum at press@phxart.org and samantha.andreacchi@phxart.org. 

About the Exhibition

Florentine Baroque: The Haukohl Collection is organized by Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl with the generous support of Haukohl Philanthropies. Its presentation at Phoenix Art Museum is coordinated by Rachel Sadvary Zebro, Associate Curator of Collections. It is made possible by Joanna and Mick Levin. 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.

Admission is free for Museum Members; youth aged 5 and younger; and Maricopa County Community Colleges students. Entrance into the exhibition is included in general admission for the public. 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. 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 and fashion 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 art experiences. Each year, more than 250,000 guests engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions, as well as 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. The Museum also presents vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in Tucson and is home to The Gene and Cathy Lemon Art Research Library, The Thorne Miniature Rooms, The Ullman Center for the Art of Philip C. Curtis, and Arizona Costume Institute (ACI). For the community, PhxArt hosts lectures, live performances, outstanding examples of global cinema, arts-education workshops, family-focused programs, and more. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880. 

About Sir Mark Fehrs Haukohl and The Haukohl Philanthropies

Sir Mark is a collector and philanthropist residing in Houston, Texas. He is Chairman of the Board of The Vero Group, a Family Office. Sir Mark is an experienced Wall Street investor having previously been Managing Director of Salomon Smith Barney in New York. He is co-founder of The Medici Archive Project of Florence, Italy. The Haukohl Family Philanthropies, whose objective is to advance art education for underserved audiences, have underwritten numerous acquisitions and exhibitions at the J. Paul Getty Museum of Los Angeles, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Arp Museum in Banhof Rolandseck of Remagen, Germany and the BOZAR in Brussels, to name only a few.

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