Arts & Culture

Spires of sun-struck red rocks, fringes of green forest and eye-searing azure skies create an instant painting.

For art collectors, Sedona is the mother lode. An incredible array of work is available from artist communities in Arizona that are known around the world and others that are just beginning to make their mark. Over 80 galleries are woven into the fabric of the small town. Walk out of one and into the next. You’ll find them spread throughout Uptown and West Sedona, tucked away at Hyatt Pinon Pointe Shops, Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, Hillside Sedona and others strung along State Route 179 in such clustered concentration it’s become known as Gallery Row.

Sedona, ever-changing in a warm luscious light, mesmerizes artists, challenging them to capture its splendor. For decades Sedona has been the defining arts town of Arizona—an enclave of unmatched beauty pulsing with creative energy.

A recent article in Rediscover America: “Find Inspiration from the Artists of Sedona, Arizona,” features information about the art community of the Red Rocks including artists Sherab Khandro, Ken Rowe, Andrea Smith and Linda Goldenstein. This blog also provides a guide to Sedona’s Secret 7 for visitors to discover hidden gems such as trails, picnics and spiritual areas.
Visitors can discover every medium including fine art paintings, thought-provoking abstracts, Western bronzes, whimsical kinetic sculptures, contemporary jewelry, Native American kachinas and weavings, large format photography, stained glass, ceramics, woodcarvings, architectural décor pieces and many more.

Sedona has a long and storied history with the world of art. There is a siren song to the red rocks that entices people with a creative vision. Max Ernst, a surrealist painter, sculptor and pioneer of the Dada Movement and his wife, acclaimed painter Dorothea Tanning moved to Sedona in 1946 when most of the roads were still dirt and gravel. Egyptian sculptor, Nassan Gobran, along with a handful of local artists founded what would become the Sedona Arts Center in 1958. A group of western artists as handy with a horse as they were with a paintbrush—Joe Beeler, George Phippen and pards—formed Cowboy Artists of America in a local saloon over cold beers in 1965.

That kind of diversity continues to fuel Sedona’s vibrant art scene. Today, Sedona is home to hundreds of artists of every medium and aesthetic bent. It is a community of ruggedly individualistic expression, from cutting-edge contemporary to visionary, Native American to modern realism. This robust level of arts and culture activities helped foster Sedona's reputation as a destination. Sedona rivals Santa Fe in its richness of the arts.

Visitors wanting to maximize their artistic explorations can time their visit for the first Friday of the month. That’s when several of Sedona’s prominent art galleries host an evening of openings, demonstrations and receptions. During 1st Friday Evening in the Galleries patrons sip wine, nibble hors d’oeuvres and enjoy live music. The event is from 5-8 p.m. but often lasts longer because the locals tend to swoop in late. No one parties like art lovers party. For more information and a map of participating galleries, go to sedonagalleryassociation.com.

Every season brings another artistic gathering. Annual events include the Sedona Arts Festival, Sedona Plein Air Festival, and Sedona International Film Festival to name just a few. Sedona Arts Festival, a fair featuring both art and crafts, takes place every October. Proceeds support arts programming in the community and provides scholarships to students pursuing an artistic career.

With Hollywood’s long love affair with Sedona as a dazzling movie set, it’s no surprise that the Sedona International Film Festival has blossomed into one of the premier events on the celluloid circuit. Launched in 1995, the nine-day festival screens features, documentaries, shorts and animated films. Educational workshops are designed to teach and inspire burgeoning filmmakers. Guests and honorees have included some of Hollywood’s elite.

Even jet-setting celebrities appreciate a few days in beautiful Sedona.