Please Join us daily in our Cultural Programming Theatre at the Fair

Friday, March 21

11:00 am How to Collect Art: Invest or Collect?
A current perspective on art as an investment, discussing when it is prudent to look at art as an asset or rather as a luxury purchase, or possibly some combination of both. The less known, non-financial benefits of art as an asset that attracts many of the world’s most knowledgeable art collectors will also be discussed. This will be a dialogue between Greg Rohan, the President of Heritage Auctions and Michael Plummer, the former COO of Christie’s Financial Services, moderated by Lauren Tresp, Publisher and owner of Southwest Contemporary magazine, with questions from the audience.

1:00 pm The Ins and Outs of Collecting Sports Memorabilia
Heritage’s expert Mike Provenzale, Production Manager of Sports and Memorabilia, will be giving a presentation for both beginners and seasoned collectors. Mike will present examples of how Sports memorabilia isn’t just about nostalgia—it’s history, passion, and opportunity. Every ticket stub, jersey, or card tells a story, and those stories have value. Whether a seasoned collector or just getting started, there’s never been a better time to explore the market. Most sports lovers have the instinct to collect— it’s just about knowing how and where to start.”

3:00 pm A Center of Gravity: Arizona’s Photography Ecosystem
Join us for a dynamic conversation spotlighting the network of institutions that comprise Arizona’s thriving, internationally renowned photography community. For decades, Arizona (and the Southwest more broadly) has functioned as a unique and important center of the photography world; its combination of universities, museums, galleries, nonprofit organizations, and leading publications form a fertile ground that sustains photographers, their audiences, and collectors alike. Join Liz Allen, Curator at ASU’s Northlight Gallery, Jeff Kida, photo editor of Arizona Highways Magazine, Neil Miller, President of Arizona Photography Alliance along with Claire Warden and David Emitt Adams of COMO Art Space. Moderated by Emilia Mickevicius, Norton Family Assistant Curator of Photography, Phoenix Art Museum and Center for Creative Photography.

5:00 pm The History of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and its Effect on Contemporary Art & Fashion
One of the biggest problems in Indian Country today is that of MMIW, Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. Join Siksika art scholar Amber-Dawn Bear Robe and other artists and curators as they discuss the tragic roots and consequences of this topic and its impact on contemporary native artists today.

Saturday March 22

11:00 am Growth and Development of Latinx Art in the Metro-Phoenix Region and Beyond
Latinx artists––those from the Latin American and Caribbean diaspora––play a vital role in shaping the cultural landscape of the United States. However, they often encounter challenges related to visibility and equitable access to the institutional, philanthropic, and commercial support necessary to secure their rightful place in the canon of American art. This panel will focus on Latinx art and contemporary trends within the field, with particular attention to regional artists. By prioritizing these artists’ perspectives, the discussion will explore the role of institutional support and the evolving nature of the commercial art market in shaping the future of the arts in the Metro-Phoenix region and beyond. Furthermore, the panel will consider how events such as this can serve as essential platforms for connecting local and international artists, galleries, and collectors, thereby fostering a dynamic and innovative arts community. The panel is moderated by Senior Curator of the ASU Art Museum, Alana Hernandez and features artists Alejandro Macias, Estephania González, and Isela “Chela” Meraz Rodriguez.

1:00 pm Contemporary Indigenous Art Now
Contemporary Indigenous art is finally getting its due after commanding a seat at the table for the last five decades. Leading native artists such as Diné (Navajo) contemporary artist working in mixed media paintings Tony Abeyta, fourth-generation Diné weaver Melissa Cody who was the first indigenous artist to show at MOMA PS1 and Phoenix muralist and graffiti artist Thomas “Breeze” Marcus of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community discuss the rise of contemporary indigenous art and its place in the contemporary art world, moderated by David Roche, Executive Director of the Heard Museum.

3:00 pm Inside the Phoenix Arts Scene
Join us for a conversation with Bentley Calverley of Bentley Gallery, Vincent de Sarthe of de Sarthe Gallery, Scottsdale, and Lisa Sette of Lisa Sette Gallery, about the Phoenix arts ecosystem. Moderated by Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum.
Since 1984, Bentley Gallery has assembled a core of important artists, quickly building a curatorial reputation that’s respected in the national art landscape. DE SARTHE maintains an influential international presence in 20th century Modern and Post-war art and the gallery experiments with alternative modes of presentation and exhibits artists from both Asia and worldwide. For 40 years, Lisa Sette Gallery has exhibited painting, sculpture, photography, installation and performance pieces from an impressive roster of emerging and established artists, as well as maintaining a clientele of local and international collectors devoted to its founder’s adventurous curatorial vision.

5:00 pm Contemporary Art in Complicated Times
Contemporary Art has been for centuries a barometer of societal change, shifting predilections and broadened horizons. Today, we are experiencing a perhaps unprecedented destabilization of the art world: from a recently constricted arts market, to a struggling non-profit arts sector, to an upending of societal norms and seismic shifts to creativity brought on by technology. This discussion with Dr. Gerd Wuestemann, President & CEO of Scottsdale Arts and The Incoming Director at Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) will focus on the daunting challenges as well as opportunities for the field in this moment.

Sunday, March 23

11:00 am: Art & Artificial Intelligence—Shaping the Future of Creativity
Exploring the intersection of art, AI, and blockchain, shedding light on how these technologies are shaping artistic creation, curation, and collection in the digital age. Will AI-generated art redefine artistic authorship? How will blockchain and decentralized systems authenticate and preserve digital and AI-created works? What ethical considerations arise? Join artist Lin Jingjing, whose work integrates technology and human emotion; Seth Gershberg, an expert in AI and blockchain’s role in creative industries; Shelton Beascochea, Chapter President of Stand with Crypto Arizona, and Stephen Grutzius, an art collector and cybersecurity expert,

1:00 pm Indigenous Fashion
Discover the fusion of tradition and modern design at our Native Fashion Panel. Join indigenous designers and cultural innovators as they share insights on sustainable fashion, heritage, and the future of style. Dive into dynamic discussions celebrating creativity and resilience. Moderated by Amber-Dawn Bear Robe (Siksika Nation) is a fashion curator and fashion show director/producer with a focus on contemporary Indigenous fashion.

3:00 pm The Legacy of Elaine Horowitch and the Rise of the Scottsdale Art Market 
Elaine Horowitch was a revolutionary and legendary figure in the rise of the Scottsdale Art Market and she impacted many artists and collectors with her approach to the art market in both Scottsdale and Santa Fe. Join Julie Sasse, former director of the Tucson Museum of Art and recent biographer of Horowitch as well as legendary Horowitch artists Billy Schenck and Tom Palmore as they discuss Elaine’s legacy and the rise of contemporary art in Scottsdale. Moderated by Joshua Rose, Founder, Rose Creative, and Member of the Scottsdale Ferrari Art Week team.