Each November, just in time for the gift-giving season, Rowe Fine Art Gallery proves the old adage that good things do, indeed, come in small packages. The gallery’s annual small works show, Itty, Bitty…and Oh, So Pretty!, features paintings that measure no more than twelve by twelve inches, tabletop-size sculptures and jewelry. Whether you’re shopping for holiday gifts, your space is limited or you’re just beginning to collect art, there’s something for everyone at this show, which opens Friday, November 1, at 4 p.m.

 Almost all of the gallery’s artists will have works exhibited in Itty, Bitty…and Oh, So Pretty!. Dane Chinnock’s Rampart (4”H x 8”W) was inspired by his very first trip through Monument Valley. “There wasn’t a cloud in the sky,” Dane remembers. “Without any reference for a ceiling, the place seemed endless – I couldn't judge how big anything was.”

 Landscape painter Lynn Heil also chose to capture a grand vista on a small canvas with Rim Beauty (8”H x 6”W). “It features one of my favorite formations, Munds Mountain,” says Lynn. “I painted it en plein air in the late afternoon near the Schnebly Hill trailhead.”

 On the opposite end of the grandness scale, Michigan native Kim Diment’s Gila Woodpecker (4”H x 4”W) captures one of Arizona’s smaller residents. “Here in Michigan, we have the northern flicker, and the Gila woodpecker is very similar to it,” says Kim. “They sing a similar song and whereas our species lives in holes they carve from trees, the Gila variety lives in holes they peck into the saguaro cactus. I find it amazing that a bird from my area has such a similar relative in Arizona.”

 Sedona resident Jen Farnsworth’s Little Miss Mischief (5”H x 5”W) takes its inspiration from a new backyard visitor. “I am so lucky to be living here in Sedona where my own yard is paradise for wildlife,” says Jen. “Bobcats are one of the most mischievous and beautiful animals that frequent my yard. My painting for the November show features a brand new visitor who loves keeping a sharp eye on all the birds at my feeder.”

 Mixed-media artist Gary Jenkins specializes in large canvases (check out his work hanging in the gallery’s “tree room”), but for this exhibit, he showcases Small Treasures #13 (12”H x 12”W), which features prickly pear buds and a delicate hummingbird. Gary says the red blossoms complement the green cactus and make the painting pop. “The hummingbird you see approaching the flower is looking for lunch!” he explains.

 Sculptor Kim Kori’s tabletop bronze, Luna (7.25”H x 5.75”W x 3”D), also has wings. “If there was ever an insect that was considered majestic, it’s the luna moth, also called the moon moth,” says Kim. “These huge green insects have a wingspan of up to seven inches, and they live only in North America. They are rarely seen by humans since their lifespan is only one week, and they are nocturnal. My sculpture is life-size with a bit of artistic license when it comes to the moth’s iridescent patina.”

 Sculptures by Shirley Eichten Albrecht and Joshua Tobey take their names from a distinctly Sedona phenomenon. Shirley’s Sedona Vortex (8”H x 5”W x 5”D) represents the artist’s belief that creating should be joyful. “The terra cotta color with the wonderfully shaped gourd just made me think ‘vortex,’” says Shirley. “You have to have fun when doing your art.”

 And Joshua Tobey’s own Vortex (7.5”H x 9”W x 3”D) depicts a speedy hummingbird, spiraling up from earth. “My wife feeds hummingbirds in a big way all summer,” says Joshua. “As a sculptor and patina artist, I am always trying to find a unique way to sculpt a new subject and depict color. With thousands of birds around the house, the sound of them and the constant buzzing inspired me to sculpt them in flight and with the impression of a jet trail.”

 Gallery owner Ken Rowe takes one of the American West’s most majestic creatures and shrinks it down to fit in the palm of your hand. Little Bison (1.5”H x 2.5”W x .625”D) is the smallest piece Ken, who is known for his life-size bronzes, has ever sculpted. He describes it as a miniature sculpture with a big heart. It’s also the perfect entry point for art lovers just beginning their collections. “I love the challenge of creating monumental sculptures, but finessing something as small as Little Bison presents its own intricacies,” says Ken. “Technicalities aside, I wanted to craft something that was accessible to a wide range of people, whether they are shopping for a gift, downsizing their home, visiting Sedona without much room in their luggage to bring something home or dipping their toes into collecting art.”

 Erik Petersen’s Spot (4”H x 3.5”W x 3.25”D) sculpture pays tribute to the spotted owl by giving the small creature a sleek, contemporary representation. The smooth contours of the bronze echo the soft curves of the owl’s body, capturing the essence of its gentle yet powerful spirit.

 Erik’s father, Joel Petersen, takes on the humble chicken in his sculpture, Coop (5.5”H x 4.5”W x 2.5”D). “For many years, I raised chickens,” says Joel, “and my grandkids won tons of blue ribbons at the Yavapai County Fair. Coop was inspired by a rooster who won the Grand Champion award.”

 If you have jewelry on your mind, don’t miss Liam Herbert’s sterling-silver Friendship Pendant. Like Ken, it’s the smallest piece Liam has ever created. “Some of my past sculptures have stood as tall as 22 feet,” says Liam. “When I decided to create wearable sculptures, I thought it would be fun to create my smallest sculpture, which is just one-inch tall. The miniature figures represent two friends embracing.”

And the gallery’s newest artist, Lesley Aine McKeown, will exhibit her wearable art featuring exotic gemstones. Lesley says her work is inspired by many things from architecture to nature to social structures. “ I am very interested in forms, so the perception of dimension and how to create it in jewelry are constant inspirations.”

 Come by the gallery during the opening of Itty, Bitty…and Oh, So Pretty! on November 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. and meet some of the artists behind these miniature masterpieces. The show continues the entire month, giving you plenty of time to get a jump start on holiday shopping.

 Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877, and find us on Facebook and Instagram.

There’s a certain mystique that surrounds the creation of art, especially bronze sculptures, which require so many steps along the way. Award-winning bronze wildlife/figurative sculptor and gallery owner Ken Rowe seeks to demystify the process when he steps into the spotlight on Friday, October 4, for Sculpting in the Raw. Ken, who prefers to sculpt from live animal models, will demonstrate his process with the help of a surprise guest. “Will our model have fur or feathers?” speculates Ken. “Four legs or two wings? You’ll have to come see to find out. 

The sculpting demonstration begins in the courtyard outside the gallery at 4 p.m. promptly. Arrive early to stake out the best seats. Ken will sculpt until 5:30 p.m. At the reception that follows, see Ken’s creation up close and chat with the artist.  

“I won’t even be building the armature in advance,” says Ken. “I’m going to try to get as far as possible in the process – from the armature to the finishing touches – in just an hour and a half. As always, I’ll be looking for help from the audience, so if you’re a budding artist, be prepared to get your hands dirty. 

That evening, Ken will also debut Standing Strong, his latest bronze sculpture. Standing Strong depicts the bust of a majestic bison. Additionally, art collectors will see the precast version of Early Bird, which captures the spirit of one of the Southwest’s most iconic animals, the roadrunner. A work in progress, Early Bird is still in its clay form, which just adds another layer to an evening that’s all about education and interaction. 

A portion of the sales from the show will benefit a local animal rescue organization. One of the gallery’s most popular shows of the year is the perfect time to expand your art collection and make a difference in the community. The evening ends at 7 p.m.

See you at one of the most exciting art events of the fall season!

 Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877

As summer slowly fades into the sunset and before the hustle and bustle of fall and the holiday season is upon us, Rowe Fine Art Gallery encourages everyone to take a deep breath and revel in the beauty of this time of year. September Splendor: A Show To Remember opens Friday, September 6, at 4 p.m. Soothe your soul with sculptures, paintings and jewelry by the gallery’s award-winning traditional and contemporary southwestern artists, several of whom are celebrating professional accolades.

Congrats to sculptor/weaver Shirley Eichten Albrecht and jeweler Lesley Aine McKeown, both featured in the fall issue of Discover Tlaquepaque Magazine, which hits newsstands in September. In the article, Shirley and Lesley dive into their processes, complete with beautiful photographs.  

We don’t want to reveal too much, but the artists were asked to divulge what makes their artwork unique. Shirley says, “I have always experimented and reached beyond traditional weaving, although I love doing traditional work. Many people have mentioned that they haven’t seen anyone do the type of weaving I do on my gourds. My gourd art is very sculptural, and I consider it fine art. Many of my pieces have a Native American feel. I can’t tell you why, but it’s what I see for the gourds. Gourds are earthy, and I want to maintain that feel in the sculptures. 

Lesley, too, considers her work fine art. “I make one-of-a-kind art jewelry,” she says. “Art jewelry is the exploration of traditional techniques in new ways, the expression of conceptual insights beyond that of simple ornamentation. This approach allows me to explore and create bodies of work within a narrative, to deeply explore those ideas and how I can express them in metal. I am not restrained by a look or style. I can make what interests me and am blessed with collectors that embrace my journey. It is liberating to create free from influence and industry standards.

Shirley and Lesley aren’t the only artists seeing their work in print right now. Art of the West’s November issue includes a profile of sculptor Alvin Marshall, who was recently inducted into the Cowboy Artists of America. Alvin is currently hard at work on sculptures for the next Cowboy Artists of America show.

Speaking of publications and shows, painter Julie T. Chapman created the cover for The Event at Rebecca Farm’s program in her home state of Montana this past summer. The equestrian triathlon has been taking place since 2002. Julie has also been invited to participate in both the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s Western Visions show and Cody, Wyoming’s Buffalo Bill show happening in September and the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s Small Works Great Wonders show in November. This isn’t the first time Julie has been asked to participate in these prestigious events, but she says it’s always flattering to be invited back. 

Sculptor Kim Kori agrees. Once again, she’s participating in the Society of Animal Artists’ annual exhibition and tour. Her sculpture, On the Rocks, was on display at the Chicago Academy of Sciences Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum this summer. And her piece titled Rapid Transit (Master) has been juried into the American Women Artists 2024 Expanding Horizons exhibition at the Loveland Museum in Loveland, Colorado, happening September 14 through November 10.

Kim Kori isn’t the only Kim receiving accolades from the Society of Animal Artists. Kim Diment’s painting, The Twin Oaks Gang, was juried into the society’s 2024 exhibit, which opens in October is Sioux City, Iowa. The painting depicts a family of raccoons that used to reside in an oak tree in Kim’s neighborhood.

Most of Rowe Gallery’s artists are multitalented, like Sedona resident and landscape painter Lynn Heil. Lynn won the Arizona State Poetry Society’s Member Contest in July in the free-verse category. Congrats, Lynn! 

Congrats also to painter Dane Chinnock, who won both first place in the oil category and Best of Show at Phippen Museum’s 50th Annual Western Art Show and Sale, which took place earlier this summer in Prescott. 

Last and certainly not least, Board Meeting, Ken Rowe’s bronze sculpture featuring seven ravens, received the Margaret Hexter Prize for creative sculpture during the National Sculpture Society’s 91st Annual Awards Exhibit. Board Meeting is currently on exhibit at the Indianapolis Art Center. In 2025, it will travel to the NSS Gallery in New York City.

 In addition to work from these artists, September Splendor showgoers will see sculptures by Erik Petersen, Joel Petersen and Joshua Tobey and paintings by Jen Farnsworth, Gary Jenkins, John Rasberry and Amy Ringholz. Don’t miss jewelry from Liam Herbert and Jennifer Inge. 

It’s an exciting time to be exploring new artwork in Sedona. The art associates at Rowe Fine Art Gallery can’t wait to see you in September.

 Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877

The dog days of summer have arrived, but that doesn’t mean you have to go into hibernation mode, not when the artwork is as cool as a cucumber inside Rowe Fine Art Gallery. Head indoors on Friday, August 2, from 4 to 7 p.m. as the gallery presents Cool Art!, its midsummer show. While new art from all of the gallery’s painters, sculptors and jewelers will be in the spotlight, there’s one – maybe two! – sculpture you’ll really want to check out.

Gallery owner and award-winning wildlife bronze sculptor Ken Rowe will unveil a precast piece that will have everyone talking. The subject matter? If we told you, that would spoil the fun. And if the stars align, he will debut the first of several new bronzes. The remaining sculptures are set to be revealed this fall.

“I’m really looking forward to sharing these finished bronzes with our collectors and art enthusiasts, especially people who saw the precast versions and have waited patiently ever since,” says Ken. “It’s already been a long, hot summer, but we want the gallery to be a welcoming respite in August, a place where you can catch your breath and be dazzled by new works of art.”

Showgoers will also see sculptures by Shirley Eichten Albrecht, Kim Kori, Alvin Marshall, Erik Petersen, Joel Petersen and Joshua Tobey along with jewelry from Liam Herbert, Jennifer Inge and Lesley Aine McKeown. Cool Art! also includes works by painters Julie T. Chapman, Dane Chinnock, Kim Diment, Jen Farnsworth, Lynn Heil, Gary Jenkins, John Rasberry and Amy Ringholz. 

Cool Art! might open on August 2, but when you’re out and about the rest of the month, make sure Rowe Gallery is on your list of places to see: The show runs through the end of August.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877

Ah, summer. The anticipation of vacations and barbecues, long days spent poolside, fresh Camp Verde corn and local farmers’ markets, and…rain? Lately, the artists at Rowe Fine Art Gallery have been reminiscing about those rainy summer days of their youth and the creativity that was born out of afternoons when they were forced to stay indoors. Since monsoon season really gets going in July, the gallery will pay homage to summer rain and all the magic that it brings on Friday, July 5, during Heat of the Moment. The show opens with an artists’ reception at 4 p.m. and then runs the entire month of July.

And if it happens to storm that night, don’t let that deter you from visiting the gallery. Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village is even more magical during a monsoon: the smell of creosote, the sounds of thunder echoing off the red rocks and the rushing water of nearby Oak Creek might spark your own inspiration. Just like our artists, we plan to make the best of a creative moment, no matter what the weather has in store.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877

In May, in honor of Mother’s Day, Rowe Fine Art Gallery raised a glass to its many talented female artists. This month, it’s time to commemorate Father’s Day and salute the gallery’s male artists. Part two of Magic & Mastery opens on Friday, June 7, at 4 p.m. when the gallery shines the spotlight on painters Dane Chinnock, Lynn Heil, Gary Jenkins, and John Rasberry; sculptors Alvin Marshall, Erik Petersen, Joel Petersen, Ken Rowe, Jason Scull, and Joshua Tobey; and jeweler Liam Herbert. Visit the gallery all month long to see the latest works from these award-winning artists, but don’t skip out on the opening reception on June 7 when most of them will be in attendance.

Painter Dane Chinnock was living and working in Prescott when gallery owner Ken Rowe discovered him at a Phippen Museum show. Dane has since relocated to Texas, but he’ll be back at Rowe Fine Art Gallery for this special June event. Dane will bring several new oil-with-palette-knife landscape paintings with him. One of Dane’s many talents is making a viewer feel what he felt when he first laid eyes on his subject matter. “You can't buy feelings in paint tubes,” he says. “To express what you saw in a landscape, you have to mix colors and consider compositions, especially if you want people to feel what you felt.”

Plein air artist Lynn Heil will also be at the show to talk about Chain Link & Shadows, his latest oil painting. Lynn says he’s always on the lookout for the topic of his next painting. “While walking around Posse Grounds in Sedona one afternoon, this scene caught my eye,” he says, referring to Chain Link & Shadows. “Depending on where I stood, the chain-link fences turned solid white in places. Contrasting the brilliant fences were the shadows thrown from the trees.”

Sedona also inspires painter Gary Jenkins. Gary made a name for himself by hosting a weekly art program on PBS in the 1980s and 1990s, and he’s called Red Rock Country home since 2012. Though he’s known for his lush flowers, Gary has spent the last few years experimenting with what he calls “abstract/realism,” a combination of an acrylic abstract background and an oil realistic subject. In June, gallerygoers will see Hey…It’s a Party!, which features roses and hummingbirds. “One of my favorite subjects to paint is roses,” says Gary. “I get most of my inspiration from my own rose garden. Often, I like to add hummingbirds to my floral paintings. They bring a touch of life and whimsy.”

Texas-based oil painter John Rasberry will not be able to attend the show, but visitors to the gallery can still peruse John’s southwestern landscapes in which he deftly captures that magical “golden hour.”

Diné stone sculptor Alvin Marshall brings two new sculptures to the show. The Majestic depicts an eagle, but look closely into the bird’s eye, and you’ll see a rendering of the artist – sort of a self-portrait in stone. Alvin will also show Star Girls, which pays tribute to the spirits who teach his people about everything from when to plant to what’s written in the stars. Meet Alvin during Magic & Mastery; he’s always eager to talk about the cultural stories behind his sculptures.

Prescott-based bronze sculptor Erik Petersen is hard at work on a second bronze owl, an enlargement of his ever-popular mini sculpture Spot. If he can take a break from the studio – and from his own business that specializes in finishing and patina work for many prominent western artists – Erik plans to attend the show.

Erik’s dad, Joel Petersen will be at Magic & Mastery. While Joel won’t be revealing anything new, he promises he has two sculptures in the works. Joel’s collectors are hoping at least one of those showcases a bison. The gallery already exhibits two of Joel’s small bison sculptures, but both sell so quickly they are frequently unavailable.

Speaking of bison, gallery owner and bronze wildlife sculptor Ken Rowe will unveil his much-anticipated bison bust, Standing Strong. The base of the bust features bas-relief bison galloping across the plains. “If the subliminal message in my sculpture Wild at Heart references our loving mothers, then my latest bison piece, Standing Strong, conveys the strength we see in our fathers,” says Ken. “That said, art is subjective, and it’s a language of its own. Regardless of the message you hear when you see a particular artwork, there is no denying when a piece speaks to you.”

Jason Scull, a member of the Cowboy Artists of America, was one of the first artists Rowe Fine Art Gallery represented when it opened its doors in 2010. Back then, Jason could be found sculpting side-by-side with Ken. (Ken still sculpts in the gallery Thursday through Saturday.) Jason’s bronzes depict scenes of farm and ranch life; he grew up in a family that ranched on the fringes of South Texas brush country. Though he won’t be in attendance in June, Jason’s artwork will be on display.

Impressionistic wildlife sculptor Joshua Tobey was the guest of honor at Rowe Fine Art Gallery back in April during his annual one-man show, so he won’t be back again until next year. In the meantime, art lovers can marvel at his newest sculptures, including Under My Wing, where a protective male quail holds his baby chicks close to his heart.

Finally, jeweler and sculptor Liam Herbert will meet and greet collectors and discuss his wearable art at Magic & Mastery. “I like to create art that is a challenge,” says Liam. “Having no limits with mediums is freeing. I search for ideas from above and from the depths of my being. My goal is to create different forms of expressions involving human emotions that also have an intellectual twist.”

Whether you’re shopping for Dad or you just want to meet some of the most talented artists in Sedona, Rowe Gallery has you covered on June 7.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877

In honor of Mother’s Day on May 12, Rowe Fine Art Gallery salutes its female artists with Magic & Mastery, part one of a two-part show. The festivities get started on Friday, May 3, at 4 p.m. with an artists’ reception featuring new paintings, sculptures and jewelry. The show continues through May and then, on June 7, transitions to a celebration of the gallery’s male artists, just in time for Father’s Day.

Magic & Mastery highlights the paintings of Julie T. Chapman, Kim Diment, Jen Farnsworth and Amy Ringholz; the sculptures of Shirley Eichten Albrecht and Kim Kori; and the jewelry of Lesley Aine McKeown. 

Julie T. Chapman will debut Why, which depicts a fox. “I’ve been studying Gerhard Richter’s work and experimenting with his approach to abstract painting in developing the ‘backgrounds’ for my own pieces,” says Julie. “The quizzical tilt of the fox’s head inspired the title of the painting, which can be interpreted in many ways: Why foxes? Or why people? Why this moment, this choice of colors, this painting? It is left to you, the viewer, to provide answers (or further questions!).”

Kim Diment plans to complete a raccoon painting in time for the show, and she’s working on a series of paintings about some of our more misunderstood creatures in the hopes that she might change the way you think about them (possums, we’re talking about you). But it’s been a busy year for the Michigan-based artist, who made a stop in Sedona in the spring. At the end of 2023, she placed second in the Richeson75 Animals, Birds, and Wildlife Competition, and she was recently asked to jury the Almenara Art Prize international competition. Nonetheless, Kim’s next painting and her favorite subject matter are never far from mind.

“Animals have been my biggest motivator in life,” says Kim. “I love painting them, photographing them, sketching them…..and, most of all, being with them. There is so much to learn about ourselves by studying them.”

Sedona’s own Jen Farnsworth has another coyote up to unveil, this one titled Joy on a Lazy Day. “I hoped to capture the ‘joy’ of a quiet moment of rest on a sunny afternoon and the beautiful connection between wildlife and humans,” says Jen. “Coyotes are not only playful, mischievous and highly intelligent but also loyal partners, great parents and highly successful survivors. I always hope to instill this connection and respect with all of my wildlife art, but especially for the often misunderstood and too-often maligned coyote, an icon of the Southwest.”

The Rocky Mountain Weavers’ Guild invited sculptor Shirley Eichten Albrecht to Denver this winter to teach a basket-weaving class, and she won an online contest through Welburn Gourd Farm, the California supplier of the gourds Shirley uses in her sculptures. In fact, she’s finished a new gourd piece, Phoenix Rising, for the May show.

“When working with gourds, I always look for a story,” she says. “I was fortunate to have a beautiful manzanita base to help tell this particular story. I started my weaving in the top opening (I call it the face) of the gourd, and that’s when I pictured a bird in flight. Immediately, I thought, ‘Phoenix Rising.’ This is one of the first times where I had the title before I even completed the sculpture. I wanted to depict feathers in the body of the gourd, and I did this by using copper and curling the ends.”

The gallery’s only female bronze sculptor, Kim Kori, is still reeling from the release of her first book, Stories in Bronze, at the end of 2023. She also received a Distinguished Achievement award during the American Women Artists show at Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina. Kim tells us she has a special surprise in store for the May show, but she’s not ready to reveal the details just yet. In the meantime, collectors will want to get their hands on Delicious, a new bronze depicting a field mouse.

“It’s a glorious day for this little field mouse,” says Kim, explaining the story behind Delicious. “While running through an orchard she spots an overripe apple on the ground. Once she’s tasted the delicious morsels, she eats almost halfway through the fruit, completely enjoying herself.”

And don’t forget to look for the gallery’s newest artist, jeweler Lesley Aine McKeown, who works with exotic stones like rutile, vesuvianite and dendritic agate. Lesley creates her earrings, rings, pendants and necklaces in her Prescott studio, painstakingly sketching each piece to scale before translating her designs to high-karat gold and sterling silver.

Whether you’re shopping for a special mom in your life, spending an evening gallery hopping with your mom, or you just want to shake hands with some of the most talented women in Sedona, Rowe Gallery is the place to be on May 3. 

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877

Twenty-four years into his career, impressionistic wildlife sculptor Joshua Tobey has begun to reflect on where he started and where he wants to go. The son of renowned sculptor Gene Tobey received an incomparable art education while working side by side with his dad – who quickly taught him to find his own style. 

That style, characterized by a smooth-as-glass texture and vibrant proprietary patinas, continues to evolve. Joshua will return to Sedona on Friday, April 5, from 4 to 7 p.m., and Saturday, April 6, from 1 to 4 p.m., for his annual one-man show at Rowe Fine Art Gallery. During Wild Spirit, art lovers will have the opportunity to meet Joshua and see the debut of new works like Lady’s Man, featuring a turkey, High Rise, which depicts a trout, and Triumph, showcasing a red stag. 

Coming up with new ideas to sculpt isn’t a problem for Joshua, even after two decades. “I have more ideas than I could ever sculpt,” he says. When he was starting out, he sculpted his wildlife subjects, everything from bears to bunnies to bobcats, entirely from memory, but today, as Joshua carefully works more anatomy into his work, he’s using reference materials and enjoying the process of evolution.

“Part of my collector base has been asking me to say more about the subject matter,” Joshua says. “I love interacting with my collectors – they give me clues as to where I should go next. But I’m also trying to not overthink the process and remember to come from a place of instinct and intuition. I don’t want to lose sight of why I sculpt, which is for the joy of it.”

As busy as always – during the first two months of this year, Joshua was only home in Loveland, Colorado, for 10 days – it’s shows like the one at Rowe Gallery that keeps him energized. And while he plans to bring a precast sculpture to Sedona, don’t expect Joshua to demo his work. “I’ve never sculpted in public,” he confesses. “For me, building a sculpture is very private. Plus I can’t talk and think at the same time – and I love to talk to people!”

To see all of Joshua Tobey’s wildlife sculptures, please click here!

Stop by Rowe Fine Art Gallery April 5 or 6 to meet this personable artist and enjoy one of the gallery’s most anticipated shows of the year.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877.

As mother nature – and art lovers! – start to stir after winter’s slumber, Rowe Fine Art Gallery is ready and waiting with doors wide open. On Friday, March 1, the gallery begins a month-long celebration of the season of rebirth during Spring Awakenings. The artist reception and show opens at 4 p.m. with a look at the fresh, colorful artwork the gallery’s family of fine artists has recently created.

The celebration of spring continues on Friday, March 15, from 1 to 4 p.m. when Kim Diment makes her first appearance at the gallery in more than five years.

All month long enjoy new sculptures by Shirley Eichten Albrecht, Kim Kori, Alvin Marshall, Erik Petersen, Joel Petersen, Ken Rowe and Joshua Tobey along with jewelry from Liam Herbert, Jennifer Inge and Lesley Aine McKeown. The show also includes new works by painters Julie T. Chapman, Dane Chinnock, Kim Diment, Jen Farnsworth, Lynn Heil, Gary Jenkins, John Rasberry and Amy Ringholz.

Kim Diment, the Michigan-based wildlife painter candidly admits 2023 was a challenging year for her family. While some artists find working during difficult times therapeutic, Kim says she found the act of creating daunting. “I’d been working on a painting of raccoons that I’d loved from the get-go, but I was afraid to work on it because it’s a lighthearted piece, and I didn’t want to impede that,” she admits.

Art is starting to feel essential again, and Kim is looking forward to spending time in Arizona. This will be her first show anywhere in nearly two years. In addition to bringing some small acrylic paintings to debut, Kim plans to sketch at the gallery. She says she sketches in the field regularly, especially when she doesn’t have her camera with her, and drawing in front of an audience doesn’t intimidate her.

“Don’t forget, I taught high school art for many years,” says Kim, laughing. “That’s a tough crowd. I find art lovers are willing to give me much more of a break.”

Come shake off those winter blues on March 1 for a new works show and return on March 15 to meet painter Kim Diment and see what she has in store for 2024.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877

A beloved annual tradition continues at Rowe Fine Art Gallery with The Heart of Art on Friday, February 2, at 4 p.m. Ever since gallery owners Ken and Monica Rowe opened their doors in 2010, they have designated the first Friday in February as the day they show appreciation to their clients. 

If you have ever purchased a Ken Rowe sculpture or a piece of art from Rowe Fine Art Gallery, you are invited to stop by for a special sweet treat. And if you’ve never purchased art from the gallery, this is the perfect time to browse its selection of sculptures, paintings and jewelry. Some of the gallery’s artists will be on hand to thank collectors in person as well as talk about their creative process and the pieces they have planned for 2024. 

“Who’s at the heart of art?” ponders Monica Rowe. “Our collectors, that’s who! Ken and I are so grateful for the clients who have supported us for the past 30-plus years, both through Rowe Fine Art and by purchasing Ken’s sculptures from other esteemed galleries across the Southwest. During our monthly shows, we shine the spotlight on our award-winning family of artists, but in February, it’s all about you, the art lovers who have given us and our artists a great life.”

Art collectors may not realize that their relationship with Rowe Gallery goes beyond making purchases. The gallery’s associates offer at-home consultation that includes everything from choosing new artwork to rehanging old favorites after a remodel. They are also available to help select the ideal gift for that special someone, whether you’re shopping in person, over the phone or online. (Pssst: Valentine’s Day is February 14!)

“We have the nicest clients,” continues Monica. “Our artists’ work winds up in incredible homes and businesses – Ken and I have had the opportunity to witness that firsthand. We’ve seen people have very emotional reactions and connect on a deep level to the artwork in our gallery. We are honored to be stewards of these masterpieces and match them to their ideal home.” 

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877 and find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

In honor of fresh starts, bright beginnings and shout-it-from-the-rooftop accomplishments, Rowe Fine Art Gallery rings in 2024 on Friday, January 5, at 4 p.m. with New Start, New Art. For the first time, the gallery shines a spotlight on precast sculptures, those raw, beautiful works in clay that hint at the bronze masterpieces to come. It’s a rare opportunity to see a work of art in progress. In addition to the precast sculptures, partygoers will enjoy new paintings and jewelry.

Precast sculptures include two from artist and gallery owner Ken Rowe and one from sculptor Kim Kori. Ken will showcase The Collector, which depicts a sly raven with his latest treasure, an ancient turquoise necklace, and Wild at Heart. In the latter, a mama bear lovingly embraces her cubs. Look closely and you’ll notice the shape of a heart as they snuggle. “A mother’s love is universal, even in the wild,” says Ken.

Kim will exhibit Delicious, which imagines a little field mouse who has scampered through an orchard, only to spot an overripe apple on the ground. The viewer comes upon the creature as he indulges in his solo feast.

Along with celebrating new art, the gallery is pleased to announce that the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America recently inducted Navajo (Diné) stone sculptor Alvin Marshall. Founded in Sedona in 1965, the organization seeks to authentically preserve and perpetuate the culture of western life in fine art. Alvin, who lives near Farmington, New Mexico, says he’s honored to be part of the organization.

“I’m very grateful,” he says. “And I’m happy to be a part of the old western style. The Cowboy Artists of America defines how life was in the old west. Through fine art, the members carry on the legacy of how the west was in the early 1900s, when it was being settled.”

After a stint with the U.S. Army, Alvin studied sculpture with renowned artist Oreland Joe in the early 1980s. In 1983, he was named Sculptor of the Year by the Heard Museum in Phoenix. Alvin carves figures and wildlife out of Utah alabaster, limestone and marble.

Now that the gift-giving season has passed and the holiday decorations are safely stowed away, it’s the perfect time to refresh your surroundings with a new piece of art. Or perhaps you’ve recently purchased a second home and the turning of the calendar pages has inspired you to decorate your blank canvas. Let the gallery’s esteemed painters, sculptors and jewelers help you turn your house into a home during New Start, New Art. The show runs through January.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877

‘Tis the season for love and laughter, seeing old friends and making new ones, and picking out meaningful gifts for loved ones. You can do all three on Friday, December 1, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Rowe Fine Art Gallery during its annual holiday show, Let it Shine, which lasts the entire month of December.

“Everything shines bright and beautiful during this time of year,” says gallery co-owner Monica Rowe. “It’s one of our favorite months here in the gallery because we have so much fun helping our clients choose the perfect presents for their favorite people. Spirits are high, and you never know when one of our artists is going to pop in with a new painting, sculpture or piece of jewelry.”

Speaking of jewelry, stop in to see the latest gold and sterling-silver artwork from Sedona’s own Liam Herbert and from Prescott’s Lesley Aine McKeown, the newest member of Rowe Gallery’s family of artists. If you’re looking for something really unique, don’t miss Jennifer Inge’s horsehair and equestrian-themed bracelets, earrings and necklaces.

And if your list includes a cozy-at-home type, enjoy small, giftable paintings by Julie T. Chapman, Dane Chinnock, Kim Diment, Jen Farnsworth, Lynn Heil, Gary Jenkins, John Rasberry and Amy Ringholz or tabletop sculptures from Shirley Eichten Albrecht, Kim Kori, Alvin Marshall, Erik Petersen, Joel Petersen, Ken Rowe and Joshua Tobey. There’s truly something for everyone on your shopping list during Let it Shine. Forgoing gifts this year? Just come by and enjoy the holiday revelry!

Please join us for this very special event celebrating the release of the highly anticipated book, “Stories in Bronze” celebrating the life and art of nature sculptor Kim Kori. Kim will be at the gallery to meet clients and for the book signing on Friday, November 3rd from 4pm until 7:00pm and then again Saturday, November 4th from 12noon to 2pm.

Good Things Come in Small Packages at Rowe Fine Art Gallery in November             

It’s always a treasure hunt at Rowe Fine Art Gallery, but once a year, those treasures can fit in the palm of your hand…or at least on any table or wall in your home. It’s time for the gallery’s annual small-works show, Itty, Bitty…and Oh, So Pretty! Whether you’re shopping for holiday gifts, your space is limited or you’re just beginning to collect art, there’s something for everyone at this exhibit, which opens Friday, November 3, at 4 p.m.

Itty, Bitty…and Oh, So Pretty! features tabletop-size sculptures, paintings that measure no more than nine inches by twelve inches and jewelry. Participating artists include painters Jen Farnsworth, Dane Chinnock, Kim Diment, Lynn Heil, Gary Jenkins and John Rasberry; and sculptors Shirley Eichten Albrecht, Kim Kori, Alvin Marshall, Ken Rowe and Joshua Tobey. The event will also showcase the work of the gallery’s fine jewelers,  Liam Herbert and Leslie Aine McKeown, who makes her gallery debut during Itty, Bitty…and Oh, So Pretty!

Based out of Prescott, Arizona, Lesley has been creating jewelry since 1984. She specializes in traditional metalsmithing techniques and tools, crafting each piece of wearable art in her studio using precious metals (sterling silver, high-karat gold) and gemstones (white diamonds, natural aquamarines, iolite and agate, to name a few).

As if that wasn’t exciting enough, to continue the gallery’s year-long celebration of the art of storytelling, the show sees the unveiling of sculptor Kim Kori’s first book, Stories in Bronze. The 156-page coffee-table book showcases images of Kim’s bronze wildlife sculptures. Kim will sign copies of the book – available for purchase at the gallery – during Itty, Bitty…and Oh, So Pretty! and on Saturday, November 4, from 1 to 3 p.m. A true labor of love, the book took Kim more than two years to complete. 

“I never thought I would publish a book,” says Kim. “A very special collector told me that he’d really like me to do a book because I was his favorite sculptor. That touched me profoundly. With he and his wife’s support and encouragement, I decided to go for it, knowing that if I didn’t do it now, I never would. It was a major undertaking, but I’m happy that I did it. The book just arrived from the printer, and I’m anxious to promote it, and I hope it will be loved.”

From indulging in tiny treasures to meeting a new artist to picking up the copy of a book by one of Sedona’s most beloved sculptors, Rowe Fine Art Gallery is the place to shop in November!

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877,

Be sure to mark your calendar now for this popular event featuring Rowe Fine Art Gallery’s Ken Rowe for a live animal quick sculpt! The demonstration will start promptly at 4pm on Friday, October 6th.

Bronze wildlife sculptor and gallery owner Ken Rowe will tell you that nine times out of 10, he’s sculpting in front of a real-life model, whether it’s a mountain lion or a mouse. But with the romance of sculpting wildlife comes the uncertainty of working with an unpredictable animal.

Take, for instance, the gray wolf Ken tried to sculpt in front of an audience a few years ago. The crowd was in awe, but the wolf was shy. So shy, in fact, that as soon as he came out of his kennel, he made a beeline for a nearby vehicle and hid under it for the rest of the demonstration. “All I could see was his backend and tail,” says Ken with a laugh. “I had to sculpt him from memory – and I’m the one who always preaches you should sculpt what’s in front of you!”

Then there was the time Ken had a quail in the gallery. Instead of posing patiently, the cheeky bird began plucking the topknots off of a work-in-progress quail clay sculpture on display. “His handler told me that’s what male quails do to other males to assert their dominance,” says Ken, “so in a way, he was giving me a ringing endorsement!”

Who knows what will happen when Ken once again hosts a sculpting demonstration with a live model on Friday, October 6, from 4 to 7 p.m. during Footloose and Sculpting Free. The demonstration begins promptly at 4 p.m. in the gallery’s courtyard, so arrive early for the best seat. Ken will attempt to create a sculpture entirely from scratch, from the armature to the finishing touches, in about 90 minutes. After the show, see his creation up close and chat with the artist about his process.

So what’s the most cooperative animal Ken has ever invited to the gallery? “That would have to be Hedwig the Owl,” says Ken. “He just sat there, turned his head and watched me. It was perfect.”

Footloose and Sculpting Free is the continuation of a year-long celebration of the art of storytelling. When you come right down to it, artists are storytellers, using paint, clay and precious metals the same way a writer uses words. The celebration of Rowe Fine Art Gallery’s wildlife and nature sculptors will continue throughout the month of October. There’s a story behind each of the paintings, sculptures and pieces of jewelry in the gallery – stay tuned as some of those stories are told throughout the year.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877.

When you read an artist’s signature on a bronze sculpture, you’re only reading half the story. Wildlife sculptor and gallery owner Ken Rowe wants to change that kicking off September with Metal Magic a one-night-only event taking place on Friday, September 1, from 4 to 7 p.m. Finishing artists from two Prescott bronze workshops, Thumb Butte Bronze and The Bronze Age, will be discussing – and, when possible, demonstrating – pouring, welding, chasing and patina techniques. If you’re curious about how a clay sculpture becomes a finished bronze, you don’t want to miss this show. (Take note: The demonstrations begin promptly at 4 p.m. in the courtyard on the west side of the gallery, so arrive early for the best seat.)

“Art collectors who’ve spoken to me for any amount of time know that I’m always trying to reiterate the collaborative nature of bronze sculpting,” says Ken. “It’s a partnership between the sculptor and several artists, most of who work behind the scenes. Until you see the process, it’s hard to understand. So on September 1, we’re bringing the foundry to the gallery. We want to put these artists in the spotlight and give them the recognition they deserve.”

Participating Bronze Age finishing artists include Erik Petersen, Joel Petersen, Jeremiah Petersen, Natalie Diedrick and Kristin McDonald, who will display her original bronzes for one night only. Keen collectors will recognize two of these names: Erik and his father Joel are both represented by the gallery.

From Thumb Butte Bronze, attendees will meet owner Meghan LaFuze and finishing artist Alan Lykins. Meghan is looking forward to showcasing examples of some of the steps involved in the foundry process.

“This is going to be a very exciting night – different from anything we’ve done before,” says Ken. “I hope everyone who loves art comes out and meets the talented people who make us sculptors look so good.”

Metal Magic is the continuation of a year-long celebration of the art of storytelling. When you come right down to it, artists are storytellers, using paint, clay and precious metals the same way a writer uses words. There’s a story behind each of the paintings, sculptures and pieces of jewelry in the gallery – stay tuned as some of those stories are told throughout the year.

The celebration of bronze sculpture artists will continue all month long as Rowe Fine Art Gallery celebrates its family of sculptors including Kim Kori, Erik Petersen, Joel Petersen, Ken Rowe and Joshua Tobey.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Artists get asked a lot of questions, but one of the most common just might be: What inspires you to create? In preparation for In the Mood, Rowe Fine Art Gallery’s latest show, which opens with a reception on Friday, August 4, at 4 p.m., the gallery posed that very question to its own family of painters, sculptors and jewelers. As it turns out, inspiration can result in either a specific artwork or just the drive to spend time in the studio. 

Navajo stone sculptor Alvin Marshall gets in the mood to create by waking up early, a practice his ancestors taught him. “As a Native American, I was told to rise before the sun, to welcome the sunrise and give the evening light blessings that you might awake in the morning and start all over,” says Alvin. “In my tradition, my work reflects the songs and the prayers that were set by my ancestors’ grandfathers’ grandmothers. I turn those songs and prayers into sculptures – living stones, living stories. And I'm always motivated by the activities of the seasons: the weather, the people and nature itself.”

Spending time in nature is what sparks painter John Rasberry to create, too, which isn’t surprising given John’s subject: landscapes. “Being outdoors and seeing the wonders of nature – light, shadow, color, contrast, and interesting, out-of-the-way places – always inspires me and stirs my creative spirit. There are so many artists who I admire, old masters and newcomers with representational and contemporary styles. Seeing their work inspires me to work harder and strive to perfect my own style.

“I’m a musician too,” John continues, “so music, all styles from French cafe, Americana, country, rock, etc., is definitely part of my inspiration and daily painting process.”

Painter Julie T. Chapman, whose work has gone through a dramatic transformation over the past few years, says she used to be inspired by nature and wildlife, too. But sometimes inspiration changes as artists evolve. “Back when I was doing more representational work, I could point to the weather as inspiration,” Julie says, “but nowadays I’d be hard-pressed to do that, given the disruption in what I do. Now, it’s more like the chaos in the world/politics/our relationships to one another and the natural world that drive my work.”

Likewise, sculptor Shirley Eichten Albrecht says her urge to create comes from more of an internal source. Shirley has to be relaxed – and fearless. “First and foremost, I can’t be stressed,” says Shirley. “I find having music playing helps me to relax and let my creative juices flow. My first figurative gourd sculpture is a very good example. A friend gave me a long slender gourd. I had never worked on something shaped like that. It sat in my studio for a year and each time I looked at it, I wondered what I would create. I began to see something figurative and Native American.

“The scariest part is always making the first cuts on the gourd,” says Shirley. “Once I did, I was committed, and I was so excited to see how I progressed. Once I got started, I found I could not stop. I became immersed in Native American culture, from weaving to clothing to the significance of various colors to storytelling. Thus, the Butterfly Maiden was born. The final piece of art was beyond my expectations.”

Other artists point to specific moments – happy and sad – that inspired artwork. For sculptor Liam Herbert, the passing of his mother-in-law completely changed the course of his life.

“As an artist, I have explored many mediums to express the entire gamut of life’s emotions,” reflects Liam. “Originally, my sculptural mediums included wood, mixed-media and bronze.

“That expanded when my wife’s mother passed away unexpectedly. Overwhelmed with grief, Sylvia and I attended a bereavement group for six weeks. I mentioned to the group that by the time I finished the course, I would create a wearable sculpture expressing what we were experiencing.

“I began carving a very small sculpture in wax, based on a seventeen-foot-tall sculpture I carved in wood in 1969. I had no idea where or how to produce this as a pendant. Months later, Sylvia and I were at a friend’s home for a celebration of life gathering where I mentioned to one of the guests that I was creating a wearable sculpture. As it turned out, the man I was talking to owned the Kick and Cast jewelry foundry in Sedona.  He said, ‘We can make that for you.’

“And so my first pendant was created. I named it Rising Joy. My jewelry would not have been born if it were not for the loss of Mom.” 

For several of the gallery’s artists, experiences they had in their formative years were eventually expressed as artworks. “As a young person, I remember having an unbelievable experience in the greater Yellowstone area,” reflects sculptor Joel Petersen. “I actually watched a grizzly bear catching and eating cutthroat trout on Soda Butte Creek. At the time, I thought grizzlies only dined on salmon. It was quite an amazing experience. Fast forward years later, and my bronze, Breakfast at Soda Butte Creek, is a direct reflection of that morning in Wyoming.”

Joel’s son, painter and sculptor Erik Petersen, also mentions Wyoming as having an impact on his creativity. “I’ve been going to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a couple of times a year for the last few years,” he says. “Seeing the mountains and rivers instantly makes me think about painting. I love being in Yellowstone with no cell phone reception and thinking about nothing else in life except finding a moose or a grizzly bear or a bull elk standing in front of the Tetons.” 

Painter Jen Farnsworth couldn’t agree more. “Observing wildlife always puts me in the mood to paint,” she says. “I try to start each day early and outside, just quietly observing and listening. These morning observations and the beauty all around us here in Sedona inspire me to paint. It was on one of these mornings that I watched the small coyote who I call Diana (after Wonder Woman) as she quietly slipped into the yard for a quick drink of water. Her beautiful and shy demeanor immediately inspired me to paint her.”

Sculptor Ken Rowe also treasures the opportunity to get close to the animals he sculpts. “There’s an amazing array of animals I’ve had the absolute honor of working with, from wolves to grizzlies to mountain lions to rhinos,” he says. “In many cases, I’ve been able to handle the animal and then sculpt as I observe it right in front of me. It’s hard to describe how amazing it is to handle an animal like a grizzly, to feel its strength, see the texture of its hair, to feel the power of its breath on you.”

It’s not a grizzly that comes to mind when we ask Kim Kori about moments that put her in the mood to sculpt. Instead, she’s thinking about flora. And she explains that sometimes several moments of inspiration find expression in a single work of art.

“I have always had a fascination with mushrooms,” Kim admits. “Living in the dry Arizona climate, I don’t get to experience them often. But when we have steady rain, I find several different types growing under the trees where I live. I have a special memory of traveling through Italy and seeing a little old man emerge from the forest with a basket of huge portobello mushrooms and a big smile on his face.

“I use mushrooms often in my sculptures,” Kim continues. “Mushroom Hugger depicts a tree frog hugging a mushroom, just as a tree hugger might hug a tree. I was able to combine my love of mushrooms, frogs and trees in this piece.”

And then there’s painter Lynn Heil, who says these days he’s gaining a better understanding of inspiration by putting down his paintbrush instead of picking it up. “Lately I've been exploring creativity by not creating anything,” he says. “I've found it refreshing and at times necessary to step back, clear the mind and just observe while considering some ‘what ifs’ in the artistic process.”

Come meet some of the gallery’s artists and see their latest works during In the Mood. The show runs through August. It’s the continuation of a year-long celebration of the art of storytelling. When you come right down to it, artists are storytellers, using paint, clay and precious metals the same way a writer uses words. There’s a story behind each of the paintings, sculptures and pieces of jewelry in the gallery – stay tuned as some of those stories are told throughout the year.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877. You can also find find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

First, puffy white clouds start to peek out above the red rocks in the early afternoon. They build throughout the day, bringing with them a sense of anticipation. As the work day winds down, the winds pick up and fork lightning appears against a black sky. A clap of thunder and then a deluge of rain. Temperatures drop – five, 10, 20 degrees. The drama is frequently over as quickly as it began, leaving in its wake steamy asphalt parking lots and the scent of sage and creosote. Everything feels cleansed.

For those not familiar with summer in Sedona, they undoubtedly picture a parched landscape baking under a blazing sun. But for the artists and residents fortunate enough to call Arizona and the West home, July and August bring the dramatic monsoon skies – and plenty of inspiration 

On Friday, July 7, Rowe Fine Art Gallery celebrates the drama of monsoon season with Stormy Weather, which opens at 4 p.m. Visit the (air conditioned!) gallery to see paintings, sculptures and jewelry inspired by southwestern summers. Stormy Weather continues through July.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery’s artists each have their own unique relationship with summer storms. Painter John Rasberry, for example, revels in taking a front row seat, even if it means getting a little wet.

“I love landscapes with bright light highlighting foreground cliffs or mountains with dark stormy clouds in the background,” he says. “Summer is one of my favorite scenes to paint! It can often be a little challenging to capture because the lighting changes so quickly. Often after I have managed to set up my easel and paints and started to work, the wind will pick up and blow the painting off the easel onto the ground, landing facedown of course, and sand will blow into my paint palette. The next thing I know, I'm packing everything up and making a mad dash for cover. If I’m asked if it is worth it, though, I have to say yes, mostly for the experience of being there and watching nature unfold. Back at my studio, I’ll have to rely on memory, a small sand-blasted study – if I get that far – and a photo reference. When the painting is finished and if it turns out how I envisioned it, I consider the storm experience a successful painting trip. That’s why I love what I do.”

Summer rains evoke different memories for different artists, like jeweler and sculptor Liam Herbert, who thinks of his childhood when a storm blows in. “I love monsoons,” he says. “As a child, I would listen to the raindrops on the tin roof as I daydreamed of things to do. In Sedona, I listen to the sound of monsoon rain on our skylight and continue to daydream about creating new visions and artistic creations. The rain brings magic to my ears and mind.”

Navajo stone sculptor Alvin Marshall has a more complicated relationship with Mother Nature, but it’s also rooted in his upbringing. “Our native ways have taught us to respect and accept the hardships of Mother Nature: tornadoes, snowstorms, cold weather, rivers and creeks overflowing…I can go on and on. These challenges inspired me to carve a white buffalo because the white buffalo guides us through these hardships. So does the medicine man who I have carved in stone with the white buffalo.”

Painter Gary Jenkins looks for details, like thirsty flowers on a cactus, after a rainstorm for his inspiration. “I noticed the other day while sitting on my patio that my cactus plant was full of new blooms,” says Gary. “I thought they would make a beautiful painting. I took many pictures of the blooms and started a painting and then added a hummingbird. Nature is my greatest source of inspiration and my teacher. When I need a creative boost, I let nature show me the way.”

Blooms also show up in sculptor Kim Kori’s work. “When the rain falls, the earth comes alive,” says Kim. “In my sculpture Because of the Rain, the irises are ready to bloom, the snail is drawn to the moisture and the toad has appeared from beneath the soil.”

For wildlife sculptor Ken Rowe, who prefers to sculpt from live models, monsoon season frequently makes wildlife more accessible. “An elk sculpture, “Answering the Challenge”, was inspired by a hot August afternoon when a large bull elk and his harem of cows came to a remote waterhole for a drink just as a dramatic monsoon storm rumbled in,” recalls Ken.

Unfortunately, monsoon season and especially its dramatic thunderstorms, are short lived. What better way to harness their beauty than with a piece of art?

Stormy Weather marks the continuation of a year-long celebration of the art of storytelling. When you come right down to it, artists are storytellers, using paint, clay and precious metals the same way a writer uses words. There’s a story behind each of the paintings, sculptures and pieces of jewelry in the gallery – stay tuned as some of those stories are told throughout the year.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877

 Rowe Fine Art Gallery says, “You Can Do It.” When you think of June, you probably think of dads and grads. (and maybe brides, but that’s another story.) What do the two have in common? Plenty of bravado…with a side of fortitude.

 It also takes a certain amount of bravery and a whole lot of encouragement to make a living as a fine artist, and when you discuss career trajectories with a creative, they will frequently cite a person or moment that gave them the courage to pursue their dreams. For wildlife sculptor and gallery owner Ken Rowe, those people were his wife, Monica Rowe, and renowned sculptor Ken Payne. One of Ken’s most recent sculptures, which will make its precast debut on Friday, June 2, during the opening reception for You Can Do It!, was inspired by Monica and Ken Payne. 

You Can Do It! also happens to be the name of the new sculpture. It features three Gambel’s quail chicks, including one who’s trying to summon the courage to make a leap of faith. “The Gambel’s quail chick that is about to make the move of his life represents my decision to go from being a taxidermist to a full-time bronze sculptor,” explains Ken. “The two chicks on the tin can represent my wife, Monica, and artist Ken Payne telling me, ‘You can do it!’ Thanks to them, I did.”

For sculptor Shirley Eichten Albrecht, it was a high school teacher who gave her the courage to reach for the stars. “There are many people who played a role in my development as an artist,” says Shirley, “but I have to say that it all started with my high school art teacher. She was always there for me. If there was an art project that needed to be done, she asked me to do it. She gave me the courage to create and to pursue an art degree, which gave me the tools to continue with my art.”

Sculptor Joshua Tobey is in a unique position: He followed in the footsteps of his father, sculptor Gene Tobey, who passed away in 2006. Joshua recently took a trip down memory lane when he completed a larger-than-life version of First Step, a foal bronze he completed in 2007.

“The original concept for this horse came to me about a year after my father died,” Joshua recalls. “There was a day I had to try to get over it. And take that ‘first step’ toward returning to positive thoughts and life. Looking at the pictures of this new version of that sculpture, I think of just how many big pieces I’ve made for my dad, both before and after he died, and all that I’ve made for myself…. That first step is tough, but life is great.”

For painter Jen Farnsworth, the encouragement she needed came from Ken and Monica Rowe.

“Monica and Ken embody the spirit of encouragement for all the gallery’s seventeen artists, and I have been a lucky recipient of their generous support,” says Jen. “I was thrilled to be invited to join the gallery seven years ago. Monica and Ken understood my life-long love of wildlife, but when it came to deciding what wildlife I would paint for the gallery first, they simply told me to paint from my heart. What came to mind was the icon of the Southwest, the coyote. I was a bit nervous about this because the gallery had never had a painter focus on the coyote before. And my coyotes were not your average coyotes but wildly colorful, mischievous coyotes! But the first coyote I brought to the gallery went to his new home the very next day. This never would have happened without the encouragement and trust of Ken and Monica.”

But artists aren’t just the recipients of encouragement. Sometimes, they are the ones hoping to provide inspiration in a world that can be challenging. In regards to his Hope pendant, sculptor Liam Herbert says, “As an artist, I feel hope gives us strength, courage and wisdom to make a difference in our lives and in the lives of those we touch. I want people who wear this pendant to feel like they always have hope.”

And Kim Kori, in her sculpture titled Search Party, chose to depict courage and bravery through one of nature’s most humble creatures: the chipmunk.

“In this piece, it’s autumn,” says Kim. “The chipmunk needs to gather food. It was a dry summer; nuts and seeds aren’t plentiful. So he’s off to search for greener pastures. As he begins his hike through the forest, he meets a tree frog who offers his assistance as a lookout. It can be dangerous in the dark woods. And a young bird who has lost his mother is given a lift in return for watching the chipmunk’s back.Despite their differences, these three band together. They now have hope and are encouraged to move on to a good life.”

You Can Do It! marks the continuation of a year-long celebration of the art of storytelling. When you come right down to it, artists are storytellers, using paint, clay and precious metals the same way a writer uses words. There’s a story behind each of the paintings, sculptures and pieces of jewelry in the gallery – stay tuned as some of those stories are told throughout the year.

From everyone at Rowe Fine Art Gallery, Happy Father’s Day and congratulations to the Class of 2023. We promise you can do it!

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877

Rowe Fine Art Gallery pays tribute to Mom! Romonia Rowe, Mona to her friends and family, loved to paint landscapes, create children’s illustrations and sculpt cats. And she’s one of the reasons her son, wildlife sculptor and gallery owner Ken Rowe, became an artist. For many years, Ken attended amateur painting classes with his mom, first as a way to distract himself from his day job (drywall finisher, for those who are curious) and, later in life, as a way to spend quality time with Mona, who passed away in 2003.

“She was a really good painter, but she never thought about doing it for a living,” says Ken. “She just did it for fun, which is probably the best reason.”

Mona, who was originally from Kansas, raised Ken, his younger brother and his older sister in Phoenix, but she spent her later years in Prescott. That was convenient for Ken, who moved to Sedona in 1995. “I would see her every week because my foundry was in Prescott,” he says. “At one point, I gave her some sculpting supplies, and she started sculpting figuratives and cats – she loved cats. But she continued to paint and paint. The house was filled with her artwork. I have some of her oils and watercolors hanging in my own house, too.”

And what about those paintings Ken created with his mom in his early days as a budding artist? Are those still hanging around?

“Yes – and they are horrible!” Ken says, laughing.

For many artists, their moms are their first fans, providing encouragement and love. In honor of Mother’s Day, Rowe Fine Art Gallery celebrates Mom during Mother May I?, which opens Friday, May 5, with a reception that takes place from 4 to 7 p.m. Stop by to see new artworks and share stories of how your mom inspired and encouraged you. (Psst: Artwork makes a great gift for Mother’s Day. The gallery will be filled with sculptures, paintings and jewelry depicting the bond between mother and child.) The show runs through May.

Of course, loving mothers can be found in the animal kingdom, too. Just ask bronze wildlife sculptor Kim Kori. Kim has been sculpting for more than 40 years, often giving a voice to nature’s smallest creatures, including mice. At one point, Kim purchased two female mice from a pet store to use as models for her artwork. To her chagrin, one of the females turned out to be a male, and before she knew it, Kim had two adults and seven babies to raise. 

“All animals, no matter their size, have different personalities,” says Kim. “My favorite of the babies was a champagne-colored mouse I named Moet. She was so much smarter than her siblings. She figured out how to remove the cap on her cage and would escape during the night. I kept thinking I had forgotten to put the cap on until I saw her in action. One morning she was gone, and when I opened a closet door, I found her sitting on a shelf, looking at me. She let me pick her up and return her to her home. The others never left the cage, even though Moet had given them an easy out.”

It was from her experience with this mouse family that Sheltered, one of Kim’s most iconic sculptures, was born. Sheltered depicts a mother mouse and four of her babies huddled under a sycamore leaf, seeking refuge from the rain. 

A recent painting titled Hey Ma! by artist Jen Farnsworth was inspired by a four-legged mom who’s slightly larger than a mouse: a javelina. “Anyone who has observed a javelina mama in the wild knows what great moms they are,” says Jen. “The javelina babies, called ‘reds,’ are never far away from Mom, and if they do get separated, even by a few feet, you can hear the baby call out with their distinctive and anxious squeaks. That was my inspiration for Hey Ma!. The little baby in this painting is not letting Mom out of her sight.”

Mother May I? marks the continuation of a year-long celebration of the art of storytelling. When you come right down to it, artists are storytellers, using paint, clay and precious metals the same way a writer uses words. There’s a story behind each of the paintings, sculptures and pieces of jewelry in the gallery – stay tuned as some of those stories are told throughout the year.

And happy Mother’s Day!

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877.

April is a special month with an exhibit not to be missed as the gallery welcomes renown sculptor Joshua Tobey!

When your home borders a national forest and Rocky Mountain National Park is just a scenic drive away, you’re bound to interact with wildlife regularly. Impressionistic wildlife sculptor Joshua Tobey says installing game cameras around his Colorado property was one of the best decisions he’s made. The video footage, in fact, inspired one of the sculptures he will debut during his one-man show, Joshua Tobey: Unleashed, at Rowe Fine Art Gallery on Friday, April 7, from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday, April 8, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Come meet Joshua Tobey and spend time with his many fabulous sculptures.

“Wild Child features a mother bear carrying her troublemaker cub to safety,” says Joshua. “We get such a kick out of seeing cubs on our game cameras – they are truly little vandals and always up to no good. They smell us on the camera, so they come in very close to investigate. One time I got a photo of just a big bear eyeball, peering into the lens. And you have to credit mothers of any species for all the work they do just to keep their little ones out of harm’s way.”

Joshua’s annual show marks the continuation of Rowe Gallery’s year-long celebration of the art of storytelling. When you come right down to it, artists are storytellers, using paint, clay and precious metals the same way a writer uses words. There’s a story behind each of the paintings, sculptures and pieces of jewelry in the gallery. Sometimes those stories involve the artwork’s inspiration and sometimes it’s about a collector’s connection to a piece. Stay tuned as some of those are told over the coming year.

For art lovers who’ve attended Joshua’s shows over the years, it comes as no surprise that the award-winning sculptor has plenty of stories to tell. Take Over the Moon, for example. That bronze depicts two amorous jackrabbits, one of Joshua’s favorite subjects to sculpt. “I grew up in the Southwest, and you’d always come home to find a jackrabbit in your driveway at night,” he says. “They have this wonderful movement – they are so athletic. My wife Jojo and I like to go camping in Wyoming. We’ll make cocktails and just watch the jackrabbits racing around the desert by the light of the moon.”

Joshua will debut four new pieces at the April show including Wild Child and Over the Moon. He’ll be the first person to admit, though, that not every piece has an origin story. Sometimes he’s inspired by a feeling or a photograph rather than a real-life event. “But they all wind up with a great story,” he admits. “Sometimes it’s about the feeling you get when you sell a piece to just the right person. And that’s equally as memorable.”

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877

Wild or Tame ... Our Artists and their works are in full Bloom!

March marks the start of spring, the season of renewal when many people start to refresh their surroundings. That frequently includes bringing in new artwork, like one European couple who discovered Rowe Fine Art Gallery online – then proceeded to travel to Sedona specifically to see painter Jen Farnsworth's art in real life. They now own five of her oil paintings. Bringing new art into their home, explains the couple, serves two purposes.

"First, we enjoy each individual piece of art because of its intrinsic value and its very own message, which add – like the pieces of a mosaic – to a complex whole and contribute to the very personal atmosphere of our house," they say.

"Second, we have brought home pieces from four continents (Europe, North and South America and Asia), places we have visited or where we lived for some time. They remind us of the artists we met and who have become friends and the places which have a special meaning for us because we associate them with very fond memories/experiences."

Just in time for the season of renewal, Rowe Fine Art Gallery will blossom with new works of art from the gallery's esteemed painters, sculptors and jewelers, all waiting to put down permanent roots in someone's home. Bloom opens Friday, March 3, from 4 to 7 p.m., and continues through the end of the month. 

The show marks the continuation of a year-long celebration of the art of storytelling. When you come right down to it, artists are storytellers, using paint, clay and precious metals the same way a writer uses words. There's a story behind each of the paintings, sculptures and pieces of jewelry in the gallery, but those stories aren't complete until an art collector makes a connection with the artwork and brings it into their lives. Stay tuned as some of those are told over the coming year.

The European couple aren't the only ones whose art collection bloomed at Rowe Gallery, says Farnsworth. "There was a young couple who came in just after getting married," she explains. "They wound up buying their first 'real' work of art – a painting by Dane Chinnock. A year later, for their anniversary, they purchased my Sedona Trilogy, and the year after that, they went home with my Sitting Pretty – Bob CATitude. Rowe Gallery truly started them on their art-collecting journey."

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877

Rowe Fine Art Gallery loves it clients. February is the month of love and it is our opportunity to say thank you as we celebrate our gratitude for all of you!

Backtrack three years ago, when COVID-19 had a tight grip on the world. Like most businesses, Rowe Fine Art Gallery temporarily locked its front doors, but that didn’t stop its most ardent supporters from purchasing art. “We had one couple—who started collecting my work long before I opened a gallery—tell us they considered Rowe Fine Art Gallery and its artists part of their family,” remembers gallery owner Ken Rowe. “During the pandemic, they called in to order art over the phone, not only because they wanted to add to their collection but because they wanted to make sure the gallery and its artists prospered during some very challenging months.”

Because of collectors like that couple, every February the gallery honors its clients with a special show dedicated to their unwavering support of fine art. Love Connection takes place on Friday, February 3, from 4 to 7 p.m. If you have ever purchased a Ken Rowe sculpture or a piece of art from Rowe Fine Art Gallery, you are invited to stop by that evening – and all month – for a special sweet treat. This year’s gift highlights sculptor Joshua Tobey’s Heart and Soul bronzes. If you’re a Joshua Tobey fan – or a fan of wolves – you’ll want to make sure you stop by.

For those who’ve never purchased from Rowe Fine Art Gallery, with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, now is the time to discover the perfect gift. The gallery offers jewelry by artists Liam Herbert and Jennifer Inge. Represented painters include Julie T. Chapman, Dane Chinnock, Kim Diment, Jen Farnsworth, Lynn Heil, Gary Jenkins, John Rasberry and Amy Ringholz. Enjoy sculptures from Shirley Eichten Albrecht, Kim Kori, Alvin Marshall, Erik Petersen, Joel Petersen, Ken Rowe, Jason Scull and Joshua Tobey.

As for the above-mentioned clients, they continue to add to their art collection, most recently with Ken’s Looking for Ewe bronze, which they say is a new favorite. They aren’t the only collectors to recently have had an emotional reaction to a piece of artwork. A few days before Christmas, a local husband presented his wife with an early gift: Ken’s Petunia bronze sculpture. The sculpture depicts a javelina taking the time to stop and smell, you guessed it, a petunia. The husband deftly captured his wife’s reaction on his phone and then later shared the video with Ken – while getting choked up himself.

“She loves javelinas,” explains Ken, “and she was just overwhelmed with emotion. We as artists sometimes forget the emotional attachment people have to our artwork. We aren’t necessarily trying to evoke that, we’re just creating what inspires us. To hear about someone’s response to a piece makes us appreciate how people see our work.”

Love Connection marks the second month of a year-long celebration of the art of storytelling. When you come right down to it, artists are storytellers, using paint, clay and precious metals the same way a writer uses words. There’s a story behind each of the paintings, sculptures and pieces of jewelry in the gallery; stay tuned as some of those are told over the coming 12 months.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877

At 9 o’clock one morning this past October, wildlife sculptor and gallery owner Ken Rowe received a phone call from his brother and sister-in-law, who were visiting from Phoenix. They had spotted a tiny animal on the side of 89A in front of Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. At first, they thought it was a squirrel, but upon closer inspection, they realized it was a furry, frightened baby javelina. 

The baby javelina was dazed but alert. Unfortunately, her four-legged family was nowhere to be found. Ken immediately reached out to Runnin’ W Wildlife Center in Cornville.

The nonprofit’s founder, Billy Harvey, determined that the baby, only a week old, had been clipped by a car. Fortunately, she had escaped any serious harm, and she started to bounce back – quickly. “In two weeks, she’d doubled her weight,” says Ken. “She was feisty, too, trying to bite anyone who came near her.”

Three weeks later, Ken’s brother returned and helped transfer the peccary, named “Squirrel” by Ken’s sister-in-law, to Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale, where she was introduced to a herd of other rescued javelinas. They welcomed her with open hooves. This spring, Squirrel and her adopted herd will be released into the wild.

Will Squirrel inspire Ken, who always tries to sculpt from real-life models, to embark on a new javelina sculpture? Ken hasn’t ruled it out, but what we do know for certain is that Squirrel has prompted the theme for Rowe Fine Art Gallery’s 2023 shows: the art of storytelling. When you come right down to it, artists are storytellers, using paint, clay and precious metals the same way a writer uses words. There’s a story behind each of the paintings, sculptures and pieces of jewelry in the gallery; stay tuned as some of those are told over the coming 12 months.

To get things started, head to the gallery on Friday, January 6, at 4 p.m. for A Wild Story, the first show in the series, where the wildlife that has inspired some of the gallery’s artists to create their most beloved pieces will be the focus. Rowe Fine Art Gallery’s family of artists includes painters Julie T. Chapman, Dane Chinnock, Kim Diment, Jen Farnsworth, Lynn Heil, Gary Jenkins, John Rasberry and Amy Ringholz; sculptors Shirley Eichten Albrecht, Kim Kori, Alvin Marshall, Erik Petersen, Joel Petersen, Ken Rowe and Joshua Tobey; and jewelers Liam Herbert and Jennifer Inge.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877

Share an Enchanted evening with our jewelers and sculptors!

Liam Herbert

Enjoy the visionary art of Sedona Jeweler and Sculptor, Liam Herbert. "My hands are led by my heart and soul, and I believe my mission as an artist is to spread the word of peace, love and harmony with my art." -- Liam Herbert

Jennifer Inge

Jeweler and avid equestrian Jennifer Inge captures the wild spirit of one of the West’s most representative animals with her horsehair bracelets, necklaces and earrings. Jennifer plaits horsehair into triple-square, double-square and single-flat braids and finishes her pieces with sterling silver spacers and charms. Each piece is one of a kind.

Our Sculptors:

The spellbinding doesn’t end with just our jewelers! Our talented sculptors are ready to enchant you with creations of their own: Shirley Eichten Albrecht, Kim Kori, Alvin Marshall, Erik Petersen, Joel Petersen, Ken Rowe, and Joshua Tobey. 

Small But Mighty Takes Center Stage

Good things come in small packages, and that holds true for art, too. Whether your collection is bursting at the seams and space is limited or you are just dipping your toes into the realm of collecting art or you are shopping for holiday gifts, Rowe Fine Art Gallery’s November miniatures show, “Itty Bitty… and Oh, So Pretty!”, is your one-stop shop.

Make sure you mark you calendar now - and here is a little sneak peek of one of the beautiful art works that will be featured in the show. “Puttin’ on the Ritz” a gourd sculpture by artist Shirley Eichten Albrecht is full of holiday spirit and sparkling turquoise beauty. The show opens Friday, November 6, at 4 p.m. and continues through the entire month.

Be sure to mark your calendar: Joshua will be in the gallery on October 28th and 29th for his annual one-man show. The artist reception and show will be from 4-7pm on Friday the 28th and Saturday, October 29th from 1-4pm.

Along with his great sense of humor, Joshua will be bringing additional sensational new art! 

“It has been a long time since I had a show in Sedona during the fall. I can’t wait to get back, to see my collectors and show my new sculptures at the best gallery in Sedona.” - Joshua Tobey

There’s a certain mystery that surrounds the creation of art, especially bronze sculptures, which require so many steps along the way. Award-winning bronze wildlife sculptor and gallery owner Ken Rowe seeks to demystify the process when he steps into the spotlight on Friday, October 7, for Class Act. Ken, who prefers to sculpt from live animal models, will demonstrate his process with the help of a surprise guest from Runnin’ W Wildlife Center, a nonprofit rescue and rehabilitation facility based out of Cornville. “Will our model have fur or feathers?” speculates Ken. “You’ll have to come see to find out.”

The sculpting demonstration begins in the courtyard outside the gallery at 4 p.m. promptly. Arrive early to stake out the best seats. Ken will sculpt until 5:30 p.m. At the reception that follows, see Ken’s creation up close and chat with the artist. The evening ends at 7 p.m.

To benefit Runnin’ W and its vital contribution to northern Arizona wildlife, Rowe Fine Art Gallery will donate 10 percent of the sales from a sculpture of Ken’s choosing to the organization that night only. It’s the perfect time to expand your art collection and make a difference in your community.

“I won’t even be building the armature in advance,” reveals Ken. “I’m going to try to get as far as possible in the process – from the armature to the finishing touches – in just an hour and a half. The pressure is on! When I told my friend Jason Scull, a western sculptor and member of the Cowboy Artists of America, what I was doing, he said, ‘What are you thinking??’

“It’s exciting and intimidating at the same time,” Ken continues. “I love that it forces me to be more instinctive. All artists want to work from that instinctive part of the mind and allow our previous experience to guide us. This is my chance.”

The last time Ken sculpted in front of an audience was March 2019 when his model was a great horned owl named Tashmoo. Though none of the sculptures he’s created during these live sculpts have been cast in bronze, Ken is toying with the idea of sending this one to the foundry. “We just have to see how it turns out,” he says.

Spontaneity is the name of the game during Class Act, so come prepared for audience participation and lots of questions. Ken will be fresh off a fishing expedition in Arkansas where he hopes to find inspiration for his next fly-fishing sculpture, so don’t forget to ask him what he has up his sleeve for the remainder of the year.

See you at one of the most exciting art events of the fall season!

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877 and find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Summer Slowly Fades into the Sunset at Rowe Fine Art Gallery

Everyone at Rowe Fine Art Gallery, artists and art collectors included, is trying to hold onto the fleeting days of summer and the golden hours that inspire some of the best artwork. Kick off your Labor Day Weekend celebration at Rowe Fine Art Gallery as we pay homage to carefree days during Summer Serenade, opening Friday, September 2, at 4 p.m. The show continues through the end of the month.

Catch up with your favorite gallery artists to see what they’ve been working on for the past three months. Some have been prolific, taking advantage of long days to paint and sculpt and prep for world renowned shows. Others decided to use the season to recharge and gain inspiration for the remainder of the year. 

If you’re sculptor Shirley Eichten Albrecht, there’s no such thing as downtime. For the second year in a row, Shirley has been juried into the National Basketry Organization’s members-only show. Shirley’s Regaliasculpture is featured in the virtual exhibit, which runs through the end of the year. She was one of 165 artists from five countries chosen to participate.

In the meantime, Shirley has two new pieces in the September show, both of which highlight her mastery of color. Soothe the Soul features a tall-body gourd painted a dreamy shade of turquoise and woven with purple, teal and lavender waxed linen and glass beads. Golden Beauty makes us nostalgic for summer – even before it’s over. The gourd is painted a warm shade of yellow and woven with golden yellow, purple and lavender waxed linen and tiny purple glass beads.

Bronze wildlife sculptor Kim Kori has also been busy with exhibitions. Kim’s Dragonfly at Rest bronze was accepted into the Society of Animal Artists virtual show, while Rapid Transit was juried into the Society’s 62ndAnnual Art & the Animal Exhibition and Tour. Rapid Transit was one of only 28 sculptures selected for the international show.

Recently, Kim has been reflecting on her body of work, and one piece especially stands out for her at this time of the year. Double Jeopardy depicts moths around a candle flame, while a spiny lizard takes it all in from below. “I often watch moths dance around the candle flames on summer evenings,” says Kim. “I’ve imagined at times how delighted a lizard would be to come across this gathering, which at the same time would put the moths in double jeopardy.”

This month, Julie T. Chapman will also be participating in two prestigious shows. First up is Western Visions, the National Museum of Wildlife Art’s fundraiser and one of the signature events of the Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival in Wyoming. And at the end of the month, she’ll take part in the Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale in Cody, Wyoming. Though she’s been busy prepping for both shows (and working on pieces that will debut in the gallery later this year), Julie stepped away from her easel this summer to nourish her favorite pastime: horses.

Painter Jen Farnsworth is putting the final touches on new works that the gallery will debut soon. In the meantime, Jen gave us this update: “This spring, I had great fun exploring new mediums and mixed media techniques with my art. I have continued the exploration and experimentation this summer. I am finding new ways to express my love of wildlife and nature with even more color and texture. I am currently working on several new canvases where I use not only ink, alcohol, graphite and tea, but also my vibrant palette of oil colors. Of course I have a new coyote, a bobcat and even an agave making its last stand. It has been a great labor of love!” 

John Rasberry recently completed two new oil paintings inspired by the Southwest’s Native American cultures. To Greener Pastures features a Navajo woman moving her sheep into a canyon for the summer. John remembers the day he came upon the scene that inspired the painting. “It was hot and dry, and all was still and quiet except the movement of the sheep and the distant sound of the bell from a bellwether ewe,” he says.

John’s second painting, No Particular Hurry, shows another Navajo woman riding her horse in Monument Valley as storm clouds gather on the horizon.

In addition to these artists, Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents painters Dane Chinnock, Kim Diment, Lynn Heil, Gary Jenkins and Amy Ringholz along with sculptors 

Alvin Marshall, Erik Petersen, Joel Petersen, Ken Rowe and Joshua Tobey, and jewelers Liam Herbert and Jennifer Inge.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village, is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  For more information, call 928-282-8877, visit rowegallery.com, or find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery’s two-part summer show, A Feast for Your Eyes, kicked off with an evening dedicated to the gallery’s painters in July. The fun continues in August when the sculptors and jewelers step up to the plate. Enjoy the latest works from Shirley Eichten Albrecht, Liam Herbert, Jennifer Inge, Kim Kori, Alvin Marshall, Erik Petersen, Joel Petersen, Ken Rowe and Joshua Tobey. The show opens at 4 p.m. on Friday, August 5, and runs through the month.

Shirley Eichten Albrecht is excited to debut Regalia, a tall-body gourd that rests on a piece of manzanita her neighbor discovered on his property. The front of the gourd features Shirley’s intricate weaving, which captures pieces of turquoise and antique bone within its web. She chose to highlight the natural markings on the back of the gourd using a wood-burning technique and various colors of gourd ink.

“After much contemplation and some research, I decided on the colors I was going to use,” says Shirley. “What kept coming to mind was Native American regalia. My research brought me to images of various regalia, and I incorporated those colors into the sculpture. There is simplicity but also strength in this piece.”

Jeweler and sculptor Liam Herbert’s latest pendant, Family Embrace, will be showcased in August. The pendant, part of Liam’s Inspiration Collection, depicts two adults and a child in a fierce hug. On August 5 only, Liam’s bronze, The Sound of Life, will also be exhibited. The bronze features a pregnant mother and a child. “The sound of the first heartbeat is a very magical moment for anyone who hears it,” says Liam. “I wanted to show the tenderness of a mother and child experiencing this precious moment together.”

Bronze wildlife sculptor Kim Kori reminds us that sculptures are produced in limited editions that do, indeed, sell out. Four of Kim’s most popular sculptures are almost entirely gone. Everyone’s favorite lovestruck frog perches on a mushroom in Amore. A hummingbird pauses to catch his breath on a shiny pear in A Moment’s Rest. And a side-blotched lizard contemplates a bee on the stem of a chili pepper in Heat of the Moment. 

RV features a clever mouse hitching a ride on the back of a box turtle with the help of a tempting, juicy strawberry suspended from a stick. “I’m familiar with box turtles, having rescued a few,” says Kim. “Not only are they fond of fruit, they are also very much attracted to the color red, making strawberries high on their list of delicacies. When I wanted to sculpt a turtle being tempted by a berry, I decided there should be someone operating the ‘vehicle,’ and a mouse seemed to be the likely candidate. I used live models for accurate depictions of both creatures. I find my imagination to be vital in my life, and I often entwine it with reality in my sculptures.”

Navajo stone sculptor Alvin Marshall is also known for taking inspiration for his one-of-a-kind pieces from real life, and his newest sculptures don’t deviate. Alvin’s granddaughter was preparing for a coming-of-age ceremony this summer, which prompted Alvin to create multiple pieces, all small in size, depicting a young girl as she readies herself for the responsibilities of adulthood. The sculptures will feature the girl running, singing and holding a hummingbird. “Because time is of the essence with these, I’ll be using alabaster,” Alvin explains. “I have a steady supply of it.” Alvin will be headed to the prestigious Santa Fe Indian Market later this month, but Sedona residents and visitors won’t have to travel to see this award-winning artist’s latest work.

Joel Petersen is putting the finishing touches on his third bison sculpture. The new, not-yet-titled piece will be approximately six inches high by nine inches wide. Though Joel lives in Prescott these days, he grew up in Wyoming where he developed a profound appreciation for the wild bison that call the area home.

Joel’s son, sculptor Erik Petersen, also a Prescott resident, won’t be unveiling any new works this summer, but art lovers will still be able to enjoy his perennially popular Ain’t No Mountain High Enough – now available in two sizes – depicting intrepid ladybugs scaling a stack of rocks. Spot, which features a spotted owl, and The Perfect Pair, showcasing ladybugs on the stem of a piece of fruit (and almost sold out!), will also be available.

Award-winning bronze wildlife sculptor and gallery owner Ken Rowe recently decided it was time to get back in the action – literally and figuratively. At the show, he will unveil a precast piece titled Alpha. “In my mind’s eye, I could see a large wolf, racing through the trees,” says Ken. “The story I want to convey is one of strength, speed, and leadership as a wolf guides his or her pack with a confident, powerful stride. I don’t know if I can pull this off, but I’ll let viewers be the judge. They can come see for themselves on August 5.”

There are plenty of enticing reasons to visit Rowe Fine Art Gallery in August, including Jennifer Inge’s exquisite horsehair jewelry and Joshua Tobey’s impressionistic wildlife bronzes. (Mark your calendars: Joshua will be back in the gallery October 28-29 for his annual one-man show.) Bring your appetite for art!