Ken Rowe with “Sage” the bobcat who is a permanent resident at Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center.
The year was 2010, and bronze wildlife sculptor Ken Rowe was eager for a new project. He had been sculpting since 1987 and living in Sedona since 1995, and he had a feeling there was another adventure on the horizon. When a small space in Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village became available, Ken and his wife, Monica, decided that that new adventure was opening their first art gallery. Rowe Fine Art Gallery made its debut in March of the same year.
Rowe Fine Art Gallery located under the Bell Tower in the world-renowned Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village in Sedona, Arizona.
A lot has changed at the gallery in the last 15 years, including the location (it moved into a larger space underneath Tlaquepaque’s iconic bell tower less than two years later). Still, Ken and Monica’s determination to represent distinctive artists who are masters at capturing the Southwest’s landscape, wildlife and culture remains the same. That’s one of the reasons why the gallery has represented many of the same artists since it opened its doors and continues to be an art destination for patrons worldwide.
Ken Rowe atop his magnificent Elk monument sculpture.
“The past 15 years have gone by so quickly,” says Ken. “Our greatest success has been representing these incredible artists who have all risen to the top of their fields. We see what we do as a symbiotic relationship. Our local wildlife and landscapes give us so much joy and we, in turn, try to convey that in our artwork. The circle closes when a collector so appreciates what we’ve created – and values the subject matter – that they take it home and live with it.”
On Friday, March 7, Ken and Monica invite the community to join them and several artists for Happy Anniversary to Us! from 4 to 7 p.m. To gear up for the big night, here are some fun facts about the gallery that might be news to you.
“Coolin His Back” Dimensions - 4”H x 16”W x 8”D Highly Collectible Limited Edition Bronze of 18 by Artist Jason Scull
· Bronze sculptor Jason Scull, a member of the Cowboy Artists of America, has been represented by the gallery since it first opened. Sedona’s own Kim Kori and Lynn Heil have been represented by Rowe Gallery for nearly as long as Jason.
“Leave Nothing But Footprints” Dimensions: 10”H x 10.5”W x 5”D Highly Collectible Limited Edition Bronze of 50 by Artist Kim Kori
“Bell Rock Vista” Dimensions: 8”H x 10”W Original Oil on Panel by Artist Lynn Heil
· Over the years, the gallery has welcomed many wildlife guests of honor including an armadillo, barn owl, bobcat, Gambel’s quail, great horned owl, hawk, horse, peregrine falcon and multiple wolves.
· While the gallery isn’t in the business of name-dropping, it counts among its clients notable names in the worlds of film, sports, politics, military, and fiction writing. “Everyone we meet is a celebrity as far as we’re concerned,” says Monica.
· The gallery includes three rooms, one of which has a 60-year-old Arizona sycamore tree growing through the middle. “A visit to the gallery is like a walk through nature,” says Monica.
· On the first Friday of each month, fans of Monica’s meatballs stop by for their fix. What’s in her secret sauce? It’s a 50/50 ratio of chili and cranberry sauces.
· Many of those fans still wax poetic about the gallery’s chocolate fountain, which used to appear each February, resulting in smiling chocolatey faces – and the occasional shirt stain.
Ken enjoying the “First Friday” chocolate fountain.
· Ken can still be found sculpting onsite three days a week.
· For the past 10 years, the gallery has hosted sculpting demonstrations that have benefited area wildlife sanctuaries and humane societies.
· The gallery is dog-friendly, and there are usually treats tucked behind the counter for furry guests. That’s not to say that some dogs aren’t a little nervous when they walk through the doors, but not because they are afraid of breaking anything. “Sometimes they are startled by the larger sculptures, especially the ones depicting life-size mountain lions, and they start to bark,” admits Monica.
From everyone at Rowe Fine Art Gallery, thank you to the artists and art collectors who’ve made the gallery a success for the past 15 years. And thank you to the Southwest’s dramatic landscape and majestic creatures for being such a constant source of inspiration. Let’s celebrate everyone and everything on March 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