SUMMER STROLLIN’ AT DEGRAZIA GALLERY IN THE SUN
Take a Cool Walk through the Southwest Art & Architecture of Famous Arizona Artist, Ted DeGrazia
As summer temperatures rise in the “Old Pueblo,” DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun makes for a cool respite where you can enjoy a slow stroll to soak up the enchanting spirit of the southwest, through the art of famous Arizona artist Ted DeGrazia, as well as his wife Marion’s artwork. Nestled in the foothills of Tucson, Arizona’s Santa Catalina Mountains, this 10-acre National Historic District was designed and built by Ted DeGrazia in the 1950s, using traditional adobe bricks that were crafted onsite.
“The gallery was designed by me. I wanted to have the feeling of the Southwest. I wanted to build it so that my paintings would feel good inside.” –
Ettore “Ted” DeGrazia
The DeGrazia art and architectural experience starts from the minute you drive up to the property, where you’ll see the adobe buildings and ramadas decorated with colorful tin flowers and stars. From saguaros to roadrunners, you’ll see all kinds of local desert plants and birds, which all add to the Sonoran desert setting. The coolness will welcome you as you step into the gallery through the iron entry gates, which were designed after the Yuma Territorial Prison. Soon you’ll be moseying down a corridor of vibrant art, walking upon a unique floor built out of local cholla cactus. To get DeGrazia’s backstory, watch the Gallery’s documentary about his life, which began on June 14, 1909, when he was born to Italian immigrants who made their home in the Morenci mining camp of Territorial Arizona.
DeGrazia is most likely the most reproduced artist in the world, and the Gallery showcases six permanent collections of his paintings that trace historical events and native cultures of the Southwest. Rotating exhibitions display some of the 15,000 DeGrazia originals housed at the gallery, including oils, watercolors, sketches, serigraphs, lithographs, sculptures, ceramics, and jewelry. You can also go into DeGrazia’s art studio where you can see his easel and painting tools. A consignment room displays DeGrazia originals available for purchase, while the gift shop offers a wide selection of reproductions.
Outside the main Gallery area, the Yaqui Deer Dancer sculpture and fountain stand prominent within the shaded cactus corral and courtyard area, where there’s almost always something in bloom. Along with the Mission in the Sun which was built in honor of Padre Kino and dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, the Gallery’s grounds also feature DeGrazia’s original home where he lived with his wife Marion who was also an artist, as well as their gravesites, and The Little Gallery which hosts visiting artists during the winter months.
A true Tucson treasure, DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is included in the National Geographic Map Guide of the Sonoran Desert. It is a must-see gallery for those interested in art, architecture, and southwest history, and shares the inspiring and fascinating story of an artist who ignored boundaries and thrived on being authentic and independent in creativity.
DeGrazia Gallery in the Sun is located at 6300 N Swan Tucson, AZ 85718. For more information call (520) 299-9191 or (800) 545-2185 and visit https://degrazia.org/
