Phoenix Art Museum Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Phoenix Art Museum

Phoenix Art Museum's north entrance
Established	18 November 1959 (1959-11-18)
Location	1625 North Central Avenue Phoenix, Arizona 85004 United States
Type	Art museum
Public transit access	'Add→'Add→ McDowell/Central Avenue

This painting by Claude Monet is part of the museum's collection.

The Phoenix Art Museum is a super cool place in Phoenix, Arizona. It's the biggest art museum in the southwestern United States! It's a huge building, about 285,000 square feet.

Inside, you'll find over 18,000 amazing artworks. These include art from America, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. There's also modern and contemporary art, plus fashion designs. The museum has been a fun community spot since 1959. It hosts festivals, live shows, and special art movies all year long.

The museum also has a special area for kids called The Hub: The James K. Ballinger Interactive Gallery. You can see cool photography exhibits too. There's even a beautiful outdoor Sculpture Garden. It's a great place to visit!

Discovering the Museum's History
Exploring the Art Collections
- Famous Artists You Might See
Learning and Education Programs
Lemon Art Research Library
How the Museum is Supported
Gallery
See also

Discovering the Museum's History

The Phoenix Art Museum first opened its doors in 1959. It is located on the Central Avenue Corridor in Phoenix.

How the Art Collection Started

After Arizona became a state in 1912, a group called the Phoenix Women's Club started working on art programs. In 1915, they bought a painting for $125. It was called Egyptian Evening by Carl Oscar Borg. They gave it to the city of Phoenix to start a community art collection. Later, in 1925, the Phoenix Fine Arts Association was formed to help with art in the community.

Building a Home for Art

In 1936, the Phoenix Art Center was created. It was part of a big government project to support artists. This art center was very successful. Because of its success, a group called the Civic Center Association was formed in 1940. They started raising money to build a proper art museum. A family donated a large piece of land for the new building.

In the early 1950s, a famous architect named Alden Dow was chosen. He designed a big complex that would hold the Phoenix Public Library, the Phoenix Little Theater, and the new Phoenix Art Museum. The museum officially opened on November 18, 1959.

An art exhibit with objects hanging from strings from the ceiling.

Growing Bigger Over Time

Just two years after opening, the museum decided to get even bigger! In 1965, it grew from 25,000 square feet to 72,000 square feet. More expansions happened in 1996 and 2006. The museum more than doubled in size. New areas were added for art exhibits, a theater, and classrooms. A special gallery for kids, the PhxArtKids Gallery, was also built.

In 2006, the museum opened new sections like the Ellen and Howard C. Katz Wing for Modern Art. They also added the large Bennett and Jacquie Dorrance Sculpture Garden. This garden is about 40,000 square feet. The museum's growth has been helped by community support and city funding. Over the last 50 years, the museum has shown over 400 exhibitions. Its collection has grown to more than 18,000 artworks. Millions of people have visited!

Exploring the Art Collections

A young couple looking closely at a painting.

Artist Werner Segarra standing in front of his photography.

A view of the outdoor sculpture garden.

One of the main exhibition rooms.

The museum has a huge permanent collection of over 19,000 artworks. These include art from different parts of the world. You can see American, Asian, European, and Latin American art. There's also Western American art, modern art, and even fashion design. The museum also partners with the Center for Creative Photography. This means you can enjoy amazing photography exhibits too.

Famous Artists You Might See

The museum has paintings by many famous artists. You might see works by Claude Monet, known for his beautiful garden scenes. There are also paintings by Georgia O'Keeffe, who painted flowers and desert landscapes. Other artists include Pablo Picasso, Max Beckmann, and Yayoi Kusama. Kusama's You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies is a very popular and immersive art experience. You can also find sculptures by artists like Aristide Maillol and Alberto Giacometti.

Learning and Education Programs

The museum offers many ways to learn about art. They have special programs for different ages and learning styles. Whether you like to learn by doing or by listening, there's something for you.

The museum also has an internship program. This is for college students and recent graduates. It's a great chance for young people to get experience working in a museum.

Lemon Art Research Library

The Lemon Art Research Library is a special library at the museum. It's a place where you can research art. It has over 40,000 books, magazines, and files about artists. It's the biggest art library in the area. You can visit it for free during public hours.

How the Museum is Supported

The museum gets most of its money from the community. About 80% of its income comes from people buying tickets, becoming members, or renting out museum spaces. A small part of the money comes from the government. Companies also donate money to help the museum.