Tucson Art Information

Here's an Arts Foundation press release “Art in Motion: Tugo Bike Wraps,” a temporary public art project. Also, the Bicis y Burros Tugo Tour is planned for TOMORROW Sunday, 10/12, from 8-10 am. More info (first, the press release):

mailchi.mp/artsfoundtuc...

storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/7921...

Alum Michael Cajero, innovative sculptor, dies at 77 - School of Art University of Arizona School of Art alumnus Michael Cajero, a prolific Tucson artist whose striking papier-mâché sculptures represented what he called the human condition, died on May 24. He was 77.

Artist Michael Cajero passed away not long ago. A memorial will be at The Process Museum, 8000 S Kolb Rd, 6-8 pm, November 8.

Please bring a little something to eat/drink - pot luck. The museum is full of his amazing art!

The U of A School of Art posted: art.arizona.edu/alum-cajero-...

Today's post on the Tucson Murals Project 2.0 blog shows the mural that replaced the "Tucson Together" mural painted five years ago as the pandemic started. The post has a link to the old mural and a photo of the new one. To see the post, go to tucsonmurals2.blogspot.com and click on this photo:

The mural by Joe Pagac and Lenka Vašíčková (and a few others) looks almost finished on the south side of the building at 630 N. Alvernon. (They'll paint the north side sometime soon.) It's Joe's biggest mural so far: 9000 sq. feet. Here's the view this morning from across 5th Street:

This @TucsonMuseumArt newsletter starts with the free Second Sundaze family day this Sunday October 12. It also covers other upcoming events. I'm glad to see they're using their roof for Happy Hours... they haven't used it for years, and it's a nice spot.

mailchi.mp/tucsonmuseum...

At Galeria Mitotera, the opening of Melt ICE, Eat Tacos -- "a bold and unapologetic art show that mixes creativity with resistance" -- is this Sunday, October 5, 1–4PM. There's more news in this email newsletter:

mailchi.mp/b679724acd86...

Raúl Grijalva's famed doodles showing at Tucson gallery Some 200 of the sketches by the late U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva will be exhibited in “The Drawings and Doodles of ¡Grijalva!,” opening Saturday at The Projects/Space in Downtown Tucson.

The late Representative Raúl Grijalva doodled. "The Drawings and Doodles of ¡Grijalva!" opens with a reception October 4 from 7-10 pm at The Projects/Space, 174 E. Toole (along with the rest of First Saturday galleries). The story from Tucson Sentinel:

www.tucsonsentinel.com/arts/report/...

Who are these sunset watchers? Why is there a whale? How can you get a coffee discount? Today's post on the Tucson Murals Project 2.0 blog has the new Desert Drifter Coffee drive-thru and details of Joe Pagac's new mural. Go to tucsonmurals2.blogspot.com and click the first icon.

Behind the brush: what goes into making a mural? Tucson artist Joe Pagac is wokring on his largest mural yet at 9,000+ square feet. See how he transforms designs into massive multi-story paintings.

KGUN 9 News posted a short article, and a video, about the way Joe Pagac works. Unfortunately, the only thing I could see of the video after three times was the starting ad. You'll probably have better luck...

www.kgun9.com/news/communi...

The art behind criminal and postmortem identification at the Tucson Police Department Jessica Romero, The Tucson Police Department (TPD) Lead Crime Scene Specialist is one of only 20 Certified Forensic Artists in the world. She shares what goes into each sketch.

I thought this story from KGUN 9 News was really interesting: Jessica Romero, The Tucson Police Department (TPD) Lead Crime Scene Specialist: how she works and what she does, with a couple of examples:

www.kgun9.com/news/local-n...

Tucson Botanical Gardens unveils Frida Kahlo-inspired exhibit TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) - Tucson Botanical Gardens is set to unveil its latest exhibit, Frida’s Garden, capturing the essence of Frida Kahlo’s iconic garden at La Casa Azul.

KVOA News4Tucson has another "Good News" story about art. Tucson Botanical Gardens' new "Frida's Garden" opens on October 11:

www.kvoa.com/news/good-ne...

September Exhibit September 5, 2025 Members of the Contemporary Artists of September's exhibit features work by members of the Contemporary Artists of Southern Arizona. All are invited to the opening reception at 11:15am this Sunday, Se...

This is the last week for the CASA (Contemporary Artists of Southern AZ) exhibition at St. Philip's in the Hills' Murphey Gallery. I believe it's open after Sunday services and by appointment.

stphilipstucson.org/september-ex...

Tucson mural honors Mobile Meals with seniors' vibrant art TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) - A new community mural is celebrating the efforts of the non-profit Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona.

KVOA News4Tucson posted an article about a cloth mural near 6th Avenue and I-10:

www.kvoa.com/news/good-ne...

Joe Pagac never stops. Best commemorative poster in the US!

eltourdetucson.org/el-tour-post...

CCP receives Benn Mitchell's renowned archive, $1 million gift - Arizona Arts The Center for Creative Photography has received renowned photographer Benn Mitchell's archive and a $1 million gift.

The Center for Creative Photography has received a $1 million gift and 150 photographs by Benn Mitchell. The announcement is here: arts.arizona.edu/ccp-receives... .

You can see his photos here:
cspace.arts.arizona.edu/search?searc...

Today's post on the Tucson Murals Project 2.0 blog shows all four sides of a mural-covered trailer at Streams in the Desert Lutheran church:

tucsonmurals2.blogspot.com/2025/09/stre...

More Joe Pagac! This mural is at the Desert Drifters Coffee location, 419 W. Speedway at Main. (Joe wrote that he'll also be painting their Oro Valley location.) From his Instagram:

www.instagram.com/p/DOQy5FZkaqW/

Joe Pagac posted this hilarious video about soup on Facebook. I normally wouldn't share something like this here, but it's maybe some insight into the creative mind behind all of those fun murals.

www.facebook.com/share/r/1BEg...

Metal Jewelry Making Class | tucsondart.org demo Create Elegant Chains with Basic Tools

The Tucson Desert Art Museum emailed about a metal jewelry making class. You'll "Create Elegant Chains with Basic Tools." No experience required. It's Wednesday, Oct 22, 2025, 10 AM – 1 PM:

www.tucsondart.org/events/metal...

Thanks for writing to tell me, Andrea. I love spreading art, and news about art. So I think we're in the same spot!

Friday's post on the Tucson Murals Project 2.0 blog shows murals and a memorial at St. John the Evangelist Church.

tucsonmurals2.blogspot.com/2025/09/sain...

Tucson Lifestyle Magazine published their 2025-2026 Arts Guide (including visual arts) in the September 2025 issue. It starts on page 57 here:

tucsonlifestyle-az.newsmemory.com

If you're seeing this post a few weeks from now, you might have to do some clicking to get to the September issue.

Virtual Art Trivia Happy Hour: Man and Machine! | Thursday, September 25, 2025 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm | The University of Arizona Museum of Art Modern life means interacting with countless machines. In this round of Art Trivia, we'll look at artworks that interrogate this (potentially codependent) relationship in interesting ways.

The U of A Museum of Art just announced this week's Virtual Art Trivia Happy Hour: "Man and Machine". No experience required, but register ahead. It's Thursday 9/25 from 5-6 pm:

artmuseum.arizona.edu/see-do/event...

Works - Jim Waid: INSTARS & Lawrence Gipe: CASBAH NOIR Opening Reception: Saturday, September 27, 2025, 7:00PM - 10:00PM

Etherton Gallery just emailed about the opening Saturday 9/27 7-10pm for Jim Waid: "Instars" and Lawrence Gipe: "Casbah Noir," featuring artist Alejandro Macias, "In the Cases."

ethertongallery.com/exhibitions/...

The opening of "Art Unites Us" at Salpointe High School's Stevens Gallery is TONIGHT 6-8pm. I had trouble finding info except on their Instagram @ salpointe_stevensgallery. Here's the Instagram link: www.instagram.com/p/DOzK_KRkou...

The Tucson Murals Project 2.0 blog has 25 posts now: tucsonmurals2.blogspot.com . This shows the "Magazine" view and the month-by-month archive. The layout is complex, so not everything works on phones. 😞 But the photos look so much better on a big screen that using a computer might be worth it...

Science Meets Fashion: Ventana Gallery event includes wearable art and chef-curated experiences - Tucson Weekly Each year, Roche Tissue Diagnostics and Art State Arizona, formerly SAACA, partner to present three rotating exhibitions in Roche’s Ventana Gallery in Oro Valley. This year, they are putting on a spec...

If you haven't been to Roche’s Ventana Gallery in Oro Valley, it's an eclectic place and worth the drive for an opening. The next opening is Thursday 9/25. Here's the Tucson Weekly article:

www.tucsonweekly.com/newsopinion/...

Joe Pagac is at it again (with his wife Lenka, I'll bet). Now it's the south side of the building at Alvernon & 5th. Here's a grab shot yesterday as I waited on southbound Alvernon for a green light. More photos on the Facebook Tucson Murals Project page: www.facebook.com/share/p/1bc3...

I've made the new murals blog tucsonmurals2.blogspot.com easier to use on a phone. Instead of opening with all of the posts in order, it opens with a thumbnail for each post, three menus and a search box. (You may need to tap on this image to see all of it.)

The Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern AZ just emailed their August "News & Opportunities" newsletter:

mailchi.mp/artsfoundtuc...