Previous January 10, 2024 Next Gold Fever: Glory and Greed in the Western Expansion Years An exhibition dedicated to the history and legacy of gold in the American West. January 10, 2024 June 29, 2024 The Tucson Desert Art Museum is delighted to announce the opening of Gold Fever: Glory and Greed in the Western Expansion Years , an insightful exhibition set to debut on January 10, 2024. This thought-provoking showcase offers a comprehensive look into the California and Western gold rushes, illustrating not only the transformative impact of the pursuit of gold and glory on America but also the resulting moral corruption, as seen through the lens of the seven deadly sins. Frank Marryat. "Les Mines d'Or de la Californie." 1855. Mountains and Molehills; or, Recollections of a Burnt Journal. Curated with exceptional care, Gold Fever presents a balanced narrative of the era's monumental impact, juxtaposing the economic success and transformation of the American West against the backdrop of the darker human impulses of greed, envy, pride, lust, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. The exhibition features rare artifacts, personal narratives, video, and artworks and mining artifacts from the Arizona Historical Society, each telling a part of this complex story. Exhibition Highlights: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Gold Rush: A unique exploration of how the pursuit of wealth exacerbated human vices, leading to moral decay as seen in the excessive drinking and gambling culture, vigilante law, violence against minority communities, and most tragically, the California Native American genocide. Archival Photography, Illustrations and Painting: An artistic journey through the era, capturing the essence of life and popular opinion during the gold rushes. Authentic Mining Artifacts: Objects that provide insight into the daily lives of miners and prospectors in Arizona. Diverse Narratives: Stories highlighting the experiences of Mexican Americans, African Americans, Europeans, Chinese miners and others who contributed to the rich tapestry of the West. "Through Gold Fever , we aim to present a more nuanced view of the western gold rushes of the mid- and late-1800s, acknowledging not only the economic transformation they spurred but also the moral complexities and human costs involved" (Alyssa Travis, curator of the Tucson Desert Art Museum) Gold Fever: Glory and Greed in the Western Expansion Years offers an in-depth exploration into the dichotomy of human nature during a pivotal historical period. The exhibition will run from January 10 to June 29. Dalrymple, Louis, Artist. "His silent partners" / Dalrymple. We invite you to join us at 7000 East Tanque Verde Road for a powerful reflection on the transformative yet morally complex era of the gold rushes. For more details about the exhibition and the Tucson Desert Art Museum, please contact us at mail@tucsondart.org . This enlightening exhibition is made possible by a grant from Arizona Humanities and generous donations from the Long Realty Cares Foundation and the Cascade Foundation . Baker, Isaac Wallace. "Untitled (Portrait of a Chinese Man)." Photograph, c. 1853. Daguerreotype. From Oakland Museum of California.

Previous January 11, 2019 Next Effie! Plein Air Pioneer January 11, 2019 April 28, 2019 In the midst of the rough and tumble activities of the Arizona Territory mining camp at Pearce lived a young woman who would emerge as Arizona’s first nationally known female plein air impressionist landscape painter. For over 55 years, Effie Anderson Smith, also known as Mrs. A. Y. Smith, made her home in Cochise County and painted its desert and mountain vistas. The paintings she created between 1895 and 1950 depicting Cochise Stronghold, the Chiricahua Mountains, Cave Creek Canyon, and the Grand Canyon would eventually be seen in exhibits from Phoenix to Philadelphia, and were sought after by politicians and European nobility. This 150th birthday retrospective of 46 paintings wass the largest exhibit of Effie Anderson Smith paintings ever assembled in one place. It was also the first time in over 75 years (since 1942) that E.A. Smith's paintings have been exhibited in Tucson, the city which hosted her earliest major exhibits in the 1920s.

Visualize History Through Art Visualize History through Art. The Tucson Desert Art Museum and Four Corners Gallery showcase art and artifacts of the Desert Southwest and surrounding regions, offering guests a deeper understanding of its history, cultures, and art. About Us Featured Museum Exhibitions and Events Ignacio Garcia: Las Sonoras Paintings Dates: September 23 – November 29, 2026 Rare Exhibition Showcases the Fine Art of One of Tucson's Most Celebrated Muralists. Learn more All The Single Ladies: Women Pioneers of the American West "All the Single Ladies" tells select stories from the trailblazing lives of unmarried women in the 19th century, who were homesteaders, Harvey girls, boarding house owners, teachers, madams, prostitutes, and entertainers. Made possible through a grant from AZ Humanities. The Dirty Thirties Explore the journeys of rural migrants fleeing the Dust Bowl, drought, and economic difficulties during the 1930s through compelling documentary photography taken under the auspices of the New Deal programs. Featured Gallery Exhibitions and Events Pastel Expressions - A Juried Art Show & Sale September 30, 2026- October 25, 2026 Learn more Pastel Expressions Paint Out and Artist Reception Paint Out October 3rd 12:00pm-2:00pm Artist Reception October 3rd 2:00pm- 4:00pm Learn more Artisan Jewelry Metalsmithing Class Beautiful Handmade Sets Taught by Celest Michelotti And Leonor Pisano Buy Tickets Upcoming Gallery Exhibitions and Events Feathers and Fur - Avian and Animal Art from the Southwest December 2 2026- February 28 2027 Learn more Upcoming Museum Exhibitions Lowrider Culture in the United States / Cultura Lowrider en Los Estados Unidos Dates: December 5, 2026 - March 7, 2027 Lowrider Car Show and Kids Garage: January 16, 2027 Learn more

Loyalty Program is not available.

Current ex Current Exhibitions January 10 to June 29, 2024 Gold Fever: Glory and Greed in the Western Expansion Years This telling exhibition delves into the relentless pursuit of gold, shining a light on the lawlessness and corruption that ran rampant in the untamed West. Through mining artifacts, photography, illustrations, and compelling tales of people from diverse backgrounds, Gold Fever reveals the magnetic allure of gold and its pivotal role in shaping the challenging dynamics and character of the burgeoning American frontier. Read More Image: His Silent Partners by Louis Dalrymple, 1897. Courtesy of the Library of Congress Now Showing Circa 1930: Memories of the General Store, Feed Sacks, Quilting and More "Repair, reuse, make-do and don't throw anything away" was the motto for the Great Depression. The heart of the community in those years was often the general store which brought everyone together for laughter, sustenance and mail. This exhibition displays a model General Store with period antiques from this fascinating era when sustainability was the essence of life. Other highlights include 1930s quilts, feed sack dolls and clothing and other essential products from this era. Be prepared to be amazed at the prices! Read More Image: Russell Lee, 1938, Wikimedia Commons ongoing Ongoing Exhibitions Ongoing Exhibition The Dirty Thirties: New Deal Photography Frames the Migrants' Stories The Dirty Thirties explores the journeys of rural migrants fleeing the Dust Bowl, drought, and economic difficulties during the 1930s. In desperate search for jobs and new opportunities, thousands of former farm owners and ex-tenant farmers left their homes in the Southern Plains states and set off to the cotton fields of Arizona and the “Promised Land” of California, where supposedly work could be found. This exhibit explores why the migrants left, their journey westward, their experiences living and working in Arizona, and what life could be like for those who traveled onto California. Read More Image: Toward Los Angeles, California. Dorothea Lange, 1937. Ongoing Exhibition All the Single Ladies: Women Pioneers of the American West All the Single Ladies: Women Pioneers of the American West tells select stories from these trailblazing women’s lives. Meet unmarried 19th century women homesteaders, Harvey girls, boarding house owners, teachers, madams, prostitutes, and entertainers. Learn how these women brought a richness and vivacity to the fabric of life in an emerging American West. Read More Image: Donaldina Cameron and Tien Fuh Wu with an unidentified woman between them on the steps of the Mission Home. Courtesy of Cameron House Ongoing Exhibition Desert Hollywood: Celebrity Landscapes in Cinema Desert Hollywood explores the “celebrity careers” of prominent Southwestern landscapes in film and television. More than mere backdrops, these landscapes including Monument Valley, the Imperial Sand Dunes, Lake Powell, the Moab area and the Sonoran Desert surrounding Tucson have become familiar, even iconic, through their supporting roles in film. Featuring video clips, stills, and behind-the-scenes photography. Image: Monument Valley shown behind actors John Wayne (left) as Ethan Edwards and Harry Carey Jr. as Brad Jorgensen in The Searchers (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images) Permanent Exhibition The Dawn of American Landscape Masterpieces by the preeminent Nineteenth century landscape painters. Works by Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Moran, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot and other master artists. This collection captures the transcendental spirit of these artists' search and expression of the sublime. Image: Waterfall, Herman Herzog (1832-1932) Past ex Past Exhibitions January 10 to June 29, 2024 Gold Fever: Glory and Greed in the Western Expansion Years This telling exhibition delves into the relentless pursuit of gold, shining a light on the lawlessness and corruption that ran rampant in the untamed West. Through mining artifacts, photography, illustrations, and compelling tales of people from diverse backgrounds, Gold Fever reveals the magnetic allure of gold and its pivotal role in shaping the challenging dynamics and character of the burgeoning American frontier. Read More Image: His Silent Partners by Louis Dalrymple, 1897. Courtesy of the Library of Congress Now Showing Circa 1930: Memories of the General Store, Feed Sacks, Quilting and More "Repair, reuse, make-do and don't throw anything away" was the motto for the Great Depression. The heart of the community in those years was often the general store which brought everyone together for laughter, sustenance and mail. This exhibition displays a model General Store with period antiques from this fascinating era when sustainability was the essence of life. Other highlights include 1930s quilts, feed sack dolls and clothing and other essential products from this era. Be prepared to be amazed at the prices! Read More Image: Russell Lee, 1938, Wikimedia Commons Permanent Exhibitions The Weavings of the Diné A premier collection of pre-1940’s Navajo textiles, including Chief’s blankets, Eye Dazzlers, Saddle blankets, Germantown weavings, Yei weavings and child's blankets. More Teachings of the Spider Woman Textiles tell stories, and this exhibit helps us to find them in each amazing, uniquely crafted work. Cartography of the Americas Learn about North American history through an impressive collection of vintage maps from the great mapmakers of the new world. Weavings of The Dance: Early Yei Textiles This collection of amazing weavings tells the story of Navajo healing ceremonies. Hopi Artistry Immerse yourself in the beautiful arts of the Hopi people. Arizona Women Uncovered Arizona Women Uncovered offers a unique insight into the lives of early pioneer women through the evolution of their undergarments. Arizona Women Uncovered was curated in collaboration with Claudine Villardito of Black Cat Vintage.

Previous January 14, 2023 Next ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas The history and culture of Latinos and their impact on American culture and society through the lens of baseball, shared in the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service’s (SITES) new bilingual traveling exhibition hosted here at TDART. January 14, 2023 April 9, 2023 The history and culture of Latinos and their impact on American culture and society through the lens of baseball will be shared in the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service’s (SITES) new bilingual (Spanish and English) exhibition, Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas. The exhibition will be on view at the Tucson Desert Art Museum (TDART) from January 14, 2023, to April 9, 2023. "Kansas City Lady Aztecas softball team," Kansas City, Kansas, 1939. Courtesy of Rose Arroyo in memory of Mary Montes. Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas was organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service in collaboration with the National Museum of American History . The exhibition received generous support from the Cordoba Corporation and Linda Alvarado, and federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the Smithsonian Latino Center. This exhibition is made possible locally with funding from a grant from Arizona Humanities ; support from Adara Wealth Management and media sponsor, Tucson Lifestyle Magazine . "Roberto Clemente, Forbes Field," Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, around 1967 . Courtesy of The Clemente Museum The exhibition captures the excitement of the game, from community baseball teams to the Major League, highlighting how the game can bring people together regardless of race, class, and gender. It will feature reproductions of historic and personal photographs, and graphic elements as well as a short bilingual video produced by “La Vida Baseball.” Throughout the 20th century in the United States and Latin America, baseball provided a path for a better future. Workers in agriculture and industry in the United States used baseball to make ends meet and as a socially acceptable space to find community and organize for rights and justice. Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas has been made possible through close collaborations with over 30 partners in 14 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico to help bring visibility to Latino community histories through baseball. Smithsonian curators collaborated with partners and local communities across the country to document and preserve baseball stories at the heart of Latino communities. The traveling exhibition will visit 15 cities through 2025. "Carmen Lujan on base," Colton, California, 1936. Courtesy of the Salazar family To highlight how baseball has played a formative role in Tucson’s barrios, this local exhibition also features archival photography that highlights the importance of baseball in Tucson’s own local barrios, including Barrio Anita, as well as a collection of historic baseball memorabilia from Arizona. TDART will host events in connection with this exhibition, including: ¡Pleibol! Night at the Museum January 24, 2023, 6:30 – 8:30 PM Tucson Desert Art Museum Register Now

Current & Upcoming Exhibitions Ignacio Garcia: Las Sonoras Paintings Sep 23, 2026, 10:00 AM Dates: September 23 – November 29, 2026 Rare Exhibition Showcases the Fine Art of One of Tucson's Most Celebrated Muralists. Learn more Lowrider Culture in the United States / Cultura Lowrider en Los Estados Unidos Dec 05, 2026, 10:00 AM Dates: December 5, 2026 - March 7, 2027 Lowrider Car Show and Kids Garage: January 16, 2027 Learn more The Dirty Thirties On Display Through November 29, 2026 Explore the journeys of rural migrants fleeing the Dust Bowl, drought, and economic difficulties during the 1930s through compelling documentary photography taken under the auspices of the New Deal programs. Colors to Dye For: The Mysterious World of Navajo Dye-Making Now Showing From gathering the finest of wool, to infusing design through the use of special dye formulas and patterns passed down generationally, the Navajo weaver’s process in creating majestic textiles is a special, unique story.

Upcoming Events Finding True Southwest- Southern Arizona Arts Guild (SAAG) Opening Reception Sat, Nov 07 Tucson Desert Art Museum The Southwest is a land with layer upon layer of natural history and cultures. For millennia, cultures here have been shaped by land, climate, wildlife and the meetings of diverse peoples. It is a harsh, beautiful, rich, challenging place. Learn more Gemstone Bracelet Workshop Sat, Nov 14 Tucson Desert Art Museum Join us for a Stones and Astrological Signs Bracelet Workshop with local jewelry maker Pia Andersen! Buy Tickets Lazy Lines in Navajo Rugs: Mistake, Method, or Meaning? Sun, Nov 15 Tucson Desert Art Museum Sunday Stroll Museum Talk given by Penelope Starr Cost: Talk is included with daily admission rate Buy Tickets Pia Andersen Jewelry Sale Sat, Dec 05 Tucson Desert Art Museum Learn more Mata Ortiz Pottery Sale with Oralia Lopez Sat, Dec 05 Tucson Desert Art Museum Come join us for our biannual Mata Ortiz Pottery sale and see a wide selection of authentic pottery from multiple craftsmen along with a demonstration. Learn more "Lowrider Cruisin': History and Culture in Chicana/o Custom Cars" Lecture by Professor Estevan Azcona Sat, Jan 09 Tucson Desert Art Museum Come learn the fascinating history of Lowrider Culture to gain a deeper understanding of the history and culture of Lowriders in this lecture by University of Arizona Mexican- American History Assistant Professor Estevan Azcona. RSVP Norm Sherwood and Friends -Tucson Barrio Painters Reception Sat, Jan 09 Tucson Desert Art Museum Learn more October 2026 Today Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 28 29 30 10:00 AM Pastel Society Opening 1 5:00 PM Ignacio Garcia Artist Reception and Gallery Talk 2 3 12:00 PM Pastel Expressions Paint Out and Artist Reception 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 12:00 PM Last Day for Pastel Expressions 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 10:00 AM Finding True Southwest- Southern Arizona Arts Guild (SAAG) Opening 5 6 7 2:00 PM Finding True Southwest- Southern Arizona Arts Guild (SAAG) Opening Reception 8

Previous March 11, 2016 Next Wayne Norton: Desert Relations March 11, 2016 June 30, 2016 The subjects of these still life photographs, which Wayne Norton calls Desert Relations, are objects that he has gathered in the deserts of the American Southwest. As an avid desert hiker and explorer for over the past 30 years, he has come across many discarded man-made relics and natural items that he finds interesting and attractive in a unique, rustic manner.

About Us Welcome to the Tucson Desert Art Museum, a nonprofit institution dedicated to showcasing the art and artifacts of the Desert Southwest. Our Mission Since opening our doors on November 1, 2013, our mission has been to educate our guests about the rich history, diverse cultures, and vibrant art of the region. At the heart of our collection lies one of the Southwest’s premier collections of Navajo and Hopi pre-1940s textiles, showcasing chiefs' blankets, Navajo saddle blankets, optical art textiles, and Yei weavings. We also house a diverse range of historical artifacts, and classic as well as contemporary Southwestern paintings, including works by renowned artists such as Maynard Dixon, Thomas Moran, Albert Bierstadt, Gerald Cassidy, Ed Mell, Ray Roberts, Peter Nisbet, and Howard Post. Our museum features rotating special exhibitions that change annually, ensuring that each visit offers a new and engaging experience. From exhibits on Navajo Sand Painting to early armaments of the Southwest and artifacts from the Mesoamerican period, our collection offers a unique and eclectic array of Southwestern art and artifacts. Conveniently located on Tucson's Eastside, our museum offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in history through our beautiful art while enjoying the magnificent panoramic views of the Catalina and Rincon mountains. Our building spans 25,000 square feet. James E. Conley Jr. About the Founder (1943-2020) James E. Conley Jr., along with the Museum’s first executive director, Rhonda R. Smith, founded the Tucson Desert Art Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2013. The Museum showcases Jim’s premier collection of Southwestern art, artifacts and textiles. Jim always encouraged the Tucson Desert Art Museum to actively pursue special exhibitions that address or expose bias in our history, so that we may learn from these difficult periods and never repeat them. His order to, “never whitewash history” but to tell the truth about our past will continue to be part of the Museum’s mission. His extensive art and artifacts (collected over the course of his entire lifetime) will continue to be an important source of public and scholarly learning for centuries to come. Subscribe to Our Newsletter Enter your email here Sign Up Thanks for submitting!

Previous November 5, 2016 Next Behind Barbed Wire: Japanese American Incarceration in Arizona November 5, 2016 April 30, 2017 This exhibition examines the federal internment facilities in Arizona, it also includes photos and details of the Japanese American men and women who served during WWII.

Previous May 3, 2017 Next The Wayfinder's Perspective: Landscape Paintings from the Permanent Collection May 3, 2017 October 1, 2017 This exhibition features contemporary landscape paintings culled from the Museum’s permanent collection. Guest curated by exhibiting artist Camden Hardy, the selection of paintings highlight the Southwest desert as a rich and varied subject matter for a diverse group of artists.