The Marshall Gallery is founded and managed by DeeAn Gillespie with her husband, Peter Strub since 1998. It centers upon lived experiences unique to humanity, which ultimately sets them apart from other living beings.

Through this philosophy, they commission a round-up of 70 local, national, and international artists for their constantly evolving exhibits. We love that they keep us on our toes with something new to offer every time we visit.

The name was derived from the street that intersects Main, both making up Scottsdale’s famous artist enclave. The gallery is also a go-to during the city’s Thursday ArtWalks, where hours are extended from 7 pm to 9 pm.

We were greeted by a clean-cut facade, which seems deliberate and continues into the interior. In contrast to the vibrant and warmly-lit pieces of art, the gallery achieves a balance most pleasing to the eye, from our perspective.

The owners and art consultants are also welcoming and helpful from what we’ve heard, spending their time guiding guests throughout the halls. Everyone is also free to come by, which is great if you’re looking for places to see around the district.

However, a few others prefer to walk around alone without being followed around by an attendant. In these cases, visitors can politely decline their assistance. 

The place is not ideal for children from what we’ve seen, which is also something to consider.

Still, art collectors have given them props for the wonderful treatment. They recalled how the owners themselves offered to visit their homes to help with installation and offer advice like accent lighting strategies.

If you’re looking for fine pieces of art to add to your collection, we recommend them for the easygoing and overall pleasant experience.

For almost 40 years, Bentley Calverley has featured works of art from all over the U.S. and some from Europe. Her gallery is also widely recognized for contemporary and modern pieces that are representative of the American Southwest.

These range in the type of medium, from traditional paintings and sculptures to site-specific works of art. Like their visitors, we like that we don’t run out of things to see.

The gallery was located in an adaptive reuse building of what used to be a 20th-century laundry warehouse. It spans an astounding 22,000 sq. ft. with a generous height that has housed large-scale artwork such as Jim Dine’s version of Venus de Milo. 

Other highly-esteemed artists that have been featured in this space are Keith Haring and Claude Monet, which is nothing short of remarkable. They also have over 40 artists on their roster, so you can expect different collections on rotation.

Until late last year, they have downsized to a 2,400 sq. ft. space at Roosevelt Row, which is where the famous First Friday Art Walks is held. We hope this doesn’t compromise the quality of their exhibits, considering the significant downscaling.

We heard their staff are generally laid-back, but a few have encountered delays in consignment. One of their buyers reported a poor experience with an unresponsive art dealer, which could be frustrating.

If you ask us, we think they’re definitely a must-see around the RoRo district. Keep in mind that they’re closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. 

Modified Arts is more than meets the eye beyond the rough but unassuming brick exterior. With humble beginnings dating back to the 1980s, the establishment has become one of Phoenix’s mainstays and is beloved by the local community of artists.

Before becoming a full-fledged art gallery, the space began as a record shop that soon grew into a live music venue aimed at boosting the local music scene. Founder Kimber Lanning had the same heart and purpose when she started the gallery.

Under the same roof is the office space for Local First Arizona, a non-profit organization that she also founded. We’re fans of her efforts in developing strategies for economic and community development.

It’s for these purposes that the gallery exists, featuring homegrown artists with diverse works of art. We heard their collections are well-curated, often a display of relevant and thought-provoking pieces of a bigger puzzle.

These shine light on issues such as gentrification and urban blight which are worth seeing especially during First Fridays. They also host live performances and workshops, that complement the overarching theme of the exhibits. 

However, the gallery staff is only available on Fridays and Saturdays, which could limit flexibility, especially for those interested in buying art. Gallery hours are also subject to change prior notice, which could throw you in a loop. 

Art with substance is what you’ll find when you enter their doors, which they keep wide open for all. 

Lisa Sette has been curating exhibitions for almost four decades through her eponymous gallery. She draws a line-up of over 40 emerging to established artists who produce works that fit her vision of authenticity.

These have attracted international collectors who have become loyal consignees owing to the quality and distinctiveness of her collections. We heard it’s no picnic to break into her roster of big leagues, a third of which are natives of Arizona.

Among these are Angela Ellsworth, a multidisciplinary artist, and Claudio Dicochea who is famous for his caste paintings. Consequently, Lisa’s catalog is generally on the higher end of the scale for those looking to furnish spaces.

More or less, this paints the picture of what it’s like to browse through her gallery, which is housed in an Al Beadle to boot. This is conveniently located in Midtown near other notable art establishments such as the Phoenix Art Museum and Heard Museum.

A lot of visitors have described it as a hidden gem, and we concur. We especially love the mixed media and installation pieces that change with each visit.

The attendants are also laid-back and don’t hover around, but are apparently ready to assist anyone curious for more details. Unfortunately, the place is not recommended for those with kids in tow.

For art that is both outside the box and has a story to tell, we think this is the place to go, just not on a Monday.

Vision Gallery is a non-profit that focuses on local and regional works of art. While under the city’s ownership, the Chandler Cultural Foundation is in charge of overseeing day-to-day activities and curating its exhibits.

It was established to make art more accessible to the general public, which we love. Locals and tourists alike can enter their doors without charge, but they also have a donation program in place for those who want to support the cause.

On top of art sales, these donations will fund homegrown artists in honing their skills through workshops. As a result, the gallery has over 300 local artisans in its growing roster, which makes for an extensive repository of art.

However, the gallery is quite small and can only exhibit around 30 pieces, which isn’t much to see for us. The quality of exhibits is also not the same every time and some visitors have been disappointed to find only a few pieces on display.

On the other hand, their art comes in various forms like prints, textiles, and mixed media. They’re also very child-friendly and even offer a Vision Kids Program where they can learn to make art with a local professional for free!

Another thing we like is that you can purchase one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry and home accessories. They also have Art-o-mats, which are repurposed cigarette vending machines that are a fun way of dispensing original artwork for only $5.

Ultimately, the gallery does a marvelous job of supporting local artists, serving as an incubator for culture and the arts in the region. We’d love to see more spaces like this around the valley.