Art Institute & Ironwood Gallery of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum

09/16/2026

Applications are now open for the 2027 Artist-in-Residence Program at the Art Institute of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum!

The selected artist will spend April 1–30, 2027 immersed in the Sonoran Desert, with on-site accommodations, access to the Museum and its grounds, exhibition opportunities, and engagement with the Art Institute community.

We welcome artists whose work demonstrates a meaningful connection to the natural world and whose practice can contribute to our mission of Conservation through Art Education.

Applications are due December 1, 2026.

Learn more about the residency and how to apply:
https://www.desertmuseumarts.com/artist-in-residence

09/15/2026

Monsoon magic has created a green desert! Join us and learn to make glass art to plant in the garden! https://www.desertmuseumarts.com/product-page/fused-glass-plant-stakes

09/11/2026

Congratulations! Our very own Susan Morris is a featured artist in the Art on the Wild Side Gallery "The Beauty of Nature Revealed" at the Phoenix Zoo We hope you get a chance to visit.

09/07/2026

All of us at the Art Institute wish you a wonderful Labor Day. We hope to see you in person soon. https://www.desertmuseumarts.com/2026-fall-classes

08/28/2026

Discover the joy of making art this fall with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Art Institute! Our new Fall 2026 classes offer inspiring opportunities for artists of all skill levels to explore drawing, painting, photography, mixed media, and more in the beauty of the Sonoran Desert.

Sign up online or call us at (520) 883-3024 to reserve your classes. DesertMuseumArts.com.

06/26/2026

The gallery is open for Cool Summer Nights! Come visit on Saturday from 5-9 pm and enjoy Western Night! While your are in the gallery, purchase one of our new T-shirts! See you then.

06/24/2026

Join us this Thursday and Friday (6/25, 6/26) for an exploration of creativity. Catherine Nash will guide you in learning and perfecting how to freely mix media: combining painting, drawing, simple printing, collage, and stitching etc Using our desert as inspiration.

To register, follow the link below or call us at 520-883-3024

The Art of Flow: Working in MultiplesInstructor: Catherine NashJune 25, 26 2026Thursday, Friday 9:00 am-3:00pm$155 museum members/$205 nonmembersOver two exciting days, we will each generate a ""library of ideas”, creating sketchbook “pages"" to use as inspiration and future source imagery! Surr...

06/19/2026

Summer is here! Join us and learn how to turn your vacation photos into digital masterpieces. To register for the class, click on the link below or call us at 520-883-3024

Turning Photos into Digital Paintings Instructor: Jay Pierstorff July 7 2026 Tuesday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm $75 museum members/$125 nonmembers Great paintings adorn the walls of museums or art galleries. Meanwhile your photos live in dusty old albums or on your sad, cracked phone screen. That all change...

06/09/2026

Join us and learn how to edit photos like a pro. Give your vacation photos an artistic makeover and turn your snapshots into works worth displaying

Register at https://www.desertmuseumarts.com/product-page/editing-your-photos-like-a-pro-6-14-26 or call us at 520-883-3024.

Editing Your Photos Like a Pro Instructor: Jay Pierstorff June 14 2026 Sunday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm $75 museum members/$125 nonmembers Watch as your instructor edits your photos using Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop and additional software as needed. A complete explanation of what is being done and why t...

05/14/2026

Visit the Art Institute at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum this month and check out the work by our Artist in Residence, Lucrezia Beerli https://www.facebook.com/lubieler/

https://www.desertmuseumarts.com/lucrezia-bieler