A Show of Resistance
Art has long been a force for revolution, reflection, and reform. A Show of Resistance, opening June 2, 2025, at First Studio Gallery, is a powerful testament to the role artists play in shaping conversations, confronting injustice, and imagining a more equitable future.
This bold, multi-artist exhibition, presented in partnership between Arizona Art Alliance and First Studio Gallery, features 150 compelling works selected from over 200 submissions nationwide. Eighty of these pieces were chosen to be exhibited at First Studio Gallery. The virtual exhibition offers a broader platform for artists’ expression and ensuring accessibility to audiences beyond Arizona.
The artwork spans a range of media, styles, and voices, unified by a common thread: resistance. Whether addressing personal battles or global challenges, the selected artists use their creative expression as both mirror and megaphone, inviting viewers to engage, reflect, and act.
A Collective Effort for Change
A Show of Resistance is more than an exhibition—it’s a movement. Hosted in the iconic First Studio building—Arizona’s first radio and television studio and now a creative hub in the heart of downtown Phoenix—the show reflects a deep commitment to curating thought-provoking, socially conscious art. First Studio Gallery is a collaborative curatorial effort led by Kristine Kollasch, alongside Ellen Nemetz, Marnelle North, and Tess Mosko Scherer.
The exhibition is made possible in partnership with Arizona Art Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to enriching Arizona’s arts landscape. For 25 years, AzAA has supported community-building through exhibitions, education, and outreach—offering programs for veterans, individuals affected by suicide and grief, and those working in healthcare.
Attend, Engage, Reflect
You are invited to attend the Opening Reception on June 6 from 5:00–9:00 PM, as part of Downtown Phoenix’s First Fridays. The Closing Reception will be held August 1, also from 5:00–9:00 PM. Outside of these events, the gallery is open by appointment—please contact FirstStudioGallery@gmail.com.
FIRST STUDIO GALLERY | 631 N 1st Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85003
For more information, follow @FirstStudioGallery and @AZArtAlliance on social media.
Scroll down to see the artwork. Click on each to learn more about each artist.
Alexandra Buxbaum
Immigration Rally
photograph
16 X 24
$300
Virtual Show Only
click for more information
Alexandra Buxbaum
Immigration Rally
photograph
16 X 24
$300
As a photographer, Alexandra Buxbaum is passionate about capturing the authentic human experience of various people and cultures in various urban and rural environments around the world. Her work offers a window into the daily lives of people from different cultures and backgrounds, highlighting the diversity and unity of the human race. The heart of her imagery shows us our collective humanity.
“Alexandra Buxbaum is a photographer whose work focuses on documenting the human experience of various people and cultures living in disparate urban environments around the world. Her objective is to capture aspects of everyday life of people as they live, work, and play.
Alexandra has worked professionally for major media outlets, and her photography has appeared in a myriad of news publications and books both nationally and internationally. She has exhibited in over 85 shows at galleries, cultural centers, and museums, and her photographs are in numerous private collections. Alexandra was an invited 2022 Art in Embassies Cultural Exchange artist with the U.S. Department of State. ”
https://documentaryarts.smugmug.com/Other/Alexandra-Buxbaum
@buxbaumphoto
Alexandra Buxbaum
John Lewis Atlanta March
Photograph
16 x 24
$300
Virtual Show Only
click for more information
Alexandra Buxbaum
John Lewis Atlanta March
Photograph
16 x 24
$300
As a photographer, Alexandra Buxbaum is passionate about capturing the authentic human experience of various people and cultures in various urban and rural environments around the world. Her work offers a window into the daily lives of people from different cultures and backgrounds, highlighting the diversity and unity of the human race. The heart of her imagery shows us our collective humanity.
“Alexandra Buxbaum is a photographer whose work focuses on documenting the human experience of various people and cultures living in disparate urban environments around the world. Her objective is to capture aspects of everyday life of people as they live, work, and play.
Alexandra has worked professionally for major media outlets, and her photography has appeared in a myriad of news publications and books both nationally and internationally. She has exhibited in over 85 shows at galleries, cultural centers, and museums, and her photographs are in numerous private collections. Alexandra was an invited 2022 Art in Embassies Cultural Exchange artist with the U.S. Department of State. ”
https://documentaryarts.smugmug.com/Other/Alexandra-Buxbaum
@buxbaumphoto
Alison Auditore
Burdened
Pen & Ink
11 x 14
$300
See it at First Studio Gallery
click for more information
Alison Auditore

Pen & Ink
11 x 14
$300
See this piece in person at First Studio Gallery
“Existing as a black woman has made me walk a space between love towards and fear of humanity. I navigate a world that both embraces and fears me.My work reflects not only this paradoxical relationship, but more broadly my fascination with the way we as humans treat each other and ourselves. I am focused on these narrow, hard-to-see spaces. The intensity of this focus is echoed in the way I create. I use fine-tipped pens and precise stippling techniques which allow me to highlight minute details and the way they work together. I want my work to require the same rigorous examination and patience it takes to connect with the world because this process, while oftentimes draining, can provide a catharsis that is more than worth the strain. In the same way you learn more about people and about us as humans by connecting and spending time with them, the more closely you examine my work, the more the details become clear.”
Alison Auditore is a visual artist and illustrator. Her fascination with the constant state of change and tensions in life were borne of experiencing a significant loss at a young age. She expresses her pursuit of understanding in her art using delicate line-work and stippling. Alison earned her BFA from the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts. She has since participated in several art shows and exhibited work in galleries across the country, including Gallery 13, The Shemer Arts Center, and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. Alison’s experience also afforded her the opportunity to serve as a guest curator for the Vision Gallery in 2023. In addition to her own artworks, Alison teaches art classes at the Edna Vihel Arts Center in Tempe, Arizona. Alison currently resides in Phoenix.
alisonstillaround.com
instagram.com/stillaroundart
Amy Menousek
Eye Spy a Narcissist
Cyanotype on Fabric
17″W x 34“H
$1900
See it at First Studio Gallery
click for more information
Amy Menousek
Eye Spy a Narcissist
Cyanotype on Fabric with Original Text, Cotton
17″W x 34“H
$1900
Eye Spy a Narcissist is an exploration of the layered dynamics of narcissism through the use of eyes (a symbol of perception, reflection and self-obsession). Each eye is filled with fragments of original text printed using cyanotype from a conversation with a narcissist. The one sided conversation captures the manipulative and self-centered rhetoric. Within each pupil, a repeat reflection echoes the words “mememe.” The tactile softness of the piece contrasts with the harshness of the theme; a psychological epidemic that has become a prominent part of our society in America.
Amy Menousek is an Arizona-based conceptual mixed media artist. Her work transcends traditional artistic boundaries to create emotional narratives that explore human experience, identity and feminism. She thoughtfully choses repurposed materials to tell each story. Her work is an invitation to examine the roles in which women have been placed within society. Through magnifying women’s experience, her work serves to embrace the empowering and transformative power of women all while demanding change for our future.
amymenousek.com
@amy_menousek
Amy Menousek
A Woman’s Work is Never Done
Cast Resin, Thimbles
36″H x 48″W NFS
See it at First Studio Gallery
click for more information
Amy Menousek
Amy Menousek
A Woman’s Work is Never Done
Cast Resin, Collectible Thimbles
36″H x 48″W NFS
“A Woman’s Work is Never Done” features 20 female hands-each giving the middle finger while wearing a commemorative thimble with the portrait of a U.S. First Lady. The purple color symbolizes royalty and power, reclaiming dignity in the face of historical dismissal. The thimble (symbols of domestic labor), are to be worn on the middle finger to perform “women’s work”. This installation challenges how society has traditionally confined and commemorated women; even the most visible in American history.
Amy Menousek is an Arizona-based conceptual mixed media artist. Her work transcends traditional artistic boundaries to create emotional narratives that explore human experience, identity and feminism. She thoughtfully choses repurposed materials to tell each story. Her work is an invitation to examine the roles in which women have been placed within society. Through magnifying women’s experience, her work serves to embrace the empowering and transformative power of women all while demanding change for our future.
amymenousek.com
@amy_menousek
Angela Adams
The Stare
35mm film, digital print
22×28
$350
See it at First Studio Gallery
click for more information
Angela Adams
The Stare
35mm film, digital print
22×28
$350
See this piece in person at First Studio Gallery
“These pieces show their resistance in very different ways. There is quiet, subdued, long served resistance. And there is also strong, fierce, active resistance. Both powerful, both needed to fight the fight. The presence of both is impactful. From a Veteran lowly holding an American flag ,while lost in a stare; wearing the shirt of a man who lost his life in his own fight for freedom.To the young black men, who march proudly on the capitol, to stand for all the injustice, hate and murder the black community has been dealing with for years and years. And finally a moment caught perfectly, just as the crowd raises their fists in solidarity, as a police helicopter flies by.All these photos show how our local Phoenix community comes together to stand for the justice they deserve.”
I am a fine art and political photographer. I cover rallies, protests, and political events on both sides of the political spectrum. While I do sway one way heavily politically, I believe it’s important to document both sides. Not only for historical sake, but I’ve found these photographs uncover the feeling, attitude, and goings on at these events. Which I believe is important information, especially for the public to have.
www.zhibit.org/angelaadamsart
@angadams55
Angela Adams
Black Lives Matter
Archival Inkjet Digital Print
22×28
$300
Virtual Show Only
click for more information
Angela Adams
Black Lives Matter
Archival Inkjet Digital Print
22×28
$300
Virtual Show Only
“These pieces show their resistance in very different ways. There is quiet, subdued, long served resistance. And there is also strong, fierce, active resistance. Both powerful, both needed to fight the fight. The presence of both is impactful. From a Veteran lowly holding an American flag ,while lost in a stare; wearing the shirt of a man who lost his life in his own fight for freedom.To the young black men, who march proudly on the capitol, to stand for all the injustice, hate and murder the black community has been dealing with for years and years. And finally a moment caught perfectly, just as the crowd raises their fists in solidarity, as a police helicopter flies by.All these photos show how our local Phoenix community comes together to stand for the justice they deserve.”
I am a fine art and political photographer. I cover rallies, protests, and political events on both sides of the political spectrum. While I do sway one way heavily politically, I believe it’s important to document both sides. Not only for historical sake, but I’ve found these photographs uncover the feeling, attitude, and goings on at these events. Which I believe is important information, especially for the public to have.
www.zhibit.org/angelaadamsart
@angadams55
Angela Adams
Stand
Archival Inkjet Digital Print
22×28
$300
Virtual Show Only
click for more information
Angela Adams
Stand
Archival Inkjet Digital Print
22×28
$300
Virtual Show Only
“These pieces show their resistance in very different ways. There is quiet, subdued, long served resistance. And there is also strong, fierce, active resistance. Both powerful, both needed to fight the fight. The presence of both is impactful. From a Veteran lowly holding an American flag ,while lost in a stare; wearing the shirt of a man who lost his life in his own fight for freedom.To the young black men, who march proudly on the capitol, to stand for all the injustice, hate and murder the black community has been dealing with for years and years. And finally a moment caught perfectly, just as the crowd raises their fists in solidarity, as a police helicopter flies by.All these photos show how our local Phoenix community comes together to stand for the justice they deserve.”
I am a fine art and political photographer. I cover rallies, protests, and political events on both sides of the political spectrum. While I do sway one way heavily politically, I believe it’s important to document both sides. Not only for historical sake, but I’ve found these photographs uncover the feeling, attitude, and goings on at these events. Which I believe is important information, especially for the public to have.
www.zhibit.org/angelaadamsart
@angadams55
Ann Morton
Violet Protest Squares
Mixed Textiles
48″ x 48“
NFS
See it at First Studio Gallery
click for more information
Ann Morton
Violet Protest Squares
Mixed Textiles
48″ x 48“
NFS
See it in person at First Studio Gallery
The Violet Protest was a nation-wide public engagement project that employed hand-made textiles as tools for protest against political divisiveness, generating a creative call for national unity. We focused on values we hold dear, rather than specific political or social issues. The color Violet symbolizes the literal combination of red and blue, familiar symbols of our nation’s differing ideologies.Thousands of makers from across all 50 states, DC and Canada contributed 8 x 8-inch squares using a variety of textile processes, and equal parts red and blue, to create their individual messages supporting the core values of the Violet Protest. At completion, the Violet Protest had collected approx. 13,500 squares made by over 2000 makers yielding 25 squares for each member of Congress, and representing nearly 60,000 hours of hand labor.
My work exploits traditional textile techniques as conceptual tools for aesthetic, social communication to examine a society of which we are all a part – as bystanders, participants, victims and perpetrators. I am driven by a desire to employ my art as a voice for advocacy. The work I do reflects my own hand work, but also orchestrates the hand work from a wide variety of community participants through public interventions that seek to harness the power in the act of making for social purpose and to engage the hands of many to create a larger whole.After a 35+ year professional career as a graphic/environmental graphic designer, I earned my MFA in 2012 from Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute – School of Art. Currently, I am a practicing artist and instructor at Mesa Community College – previously at Arizona State University and Paradise Valley Community College in metropolitan Phoenix. Selected work is currently represented by Lisa Sette Gallery in Phoenix, AZ.
https://www.annmortonaz.com
IG – @annmortonaz
FB – https://www.facebook.com/annmortonaz/
Ann Osgood
Land of Milk and Honey
acrylic, gold leaf, collage
15″x30“
$300
See it at First Studio Gallery
click for more information
Ann Osgood
Land of Milk and Honey
acrylic, gold leaf, collage
15″x30“
$300
See it in person at First Studio Gallery
My pieces for this show are visual language to express the immigration to America and the push back against the repressive administration. In my work Land of MIlk and Honey I used gold leaf to represent the vision a migrant may have of the US. The red painted southern border is a reference to the cruel reception they may have when reaching there.The Light in the Darkness is the way I think of those who resisted authoritarians in Nazi Germany. Fanning the flames of a vision of how things should be and pushing back against Fascists is also needed in the current state of the US.
I started formal art training at age 12 in Southern California. I continued to have great teachers and graduated with a BFA in Drawing and Painting at the University of Hawaii. I moved to the base of the Superstition Mountains where I opened The Upstairs Gallery and exhibited and gave instruction, including for Central Arizona College. Moving to Phoenix I began a 20 year career teaching in K-12 public schools. Through involvement with the Arizona Artists Guild I was a resident artist at The Gallery@the Artery for 10 years. I continue my artwork and exhibit in solo and group shows in the area.
aosgood@hotmail.com
instagram@utopiaartstudio
Ann Osgood
Light in the Darkness
acrylic
24″x30“
$300
Virtual Show Only
My pieces for this show are visual language to express the immigration to America and the push back against the repressive administration. In my work Land of MIlk and Honey I used gold leaf to represent the vision a migrant may have of the US. The red painted southern border is a reference to the cruel reception they may have when reaching there.The Light in the Darkness is the way I think of those who resisted authoritarians in Nazi Germany. Fanning the flames of a vision of how things should be and pushing back against Fascists is also needed in the current state of the US.
I started formal art training at age 12 in Southern California. I continued to have great teachers and graduated with a BFA in Drawing and Painting at the University of Hawaii. I moved to the base of the Superstition Mountains where I opened The Upstairs Gallery and exhibited and gave instruction, including for Central Arizona College. Moving to Phoenix I began a 20 year career teaching in K-12 public schools. Through involvement with the Arizona Artists Guild I was a resident artist at The Gallery@the Artery for 10 years. I continue my artwork and exhibit in solo and group shows in the area.
aosgood@hotmail.com
instagram@utopiaartstudio
Annette Sexton-Ruiz
Loteria Arizona
Watercolor reproduction on Paper
21 x 15 inches
$400
See it at First Studio Gallery
click for more information
Annette Sexton-Ruiz
Loteria Arizona
Watercolor reproduction on Paper
21 x 15 inches
$400
See it in person at First Studio
“I believe that as an artist, my purpose is to invoke thoughts in the viewer and to inform future viewers of my art, as to what was happening in the time that I was here. This is my way of telling the story. Some works can also be a warning: “Future of Hate” shows what could be if Hate were to continue to fester in our society. ”
Annette was born in Chicago and has lived in Chicago, Mexico City and Arizona. She participated in the Chicano Art Movement in Chicago’s “Little Mexico” in the 1980’s, Self-Help Graphics in East Los Angeles throughout the 1990’s and Xicanindio in Arizona. She received her Bachelor of Art in Art History from ASU and has studied art in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Italy, England, Ireland and Cuba.Annette work includes the creation of over 20 public art pieces throughout the phoenix metro area and participatipation in public art in County Mayo, Ireland.Her work has been displayed nationally and internationally.
AnnetteSextonRuiz.teamdroid.com
Annette Sexton-Ruiz
Lo Que Veo
Oil on Canvas
30 x 24 inches
$900
Virtual Show Only
click for more information
Annette Sexton-Ruiz
Lo Que Veo
Oil on Canvas
30 x 24 inches
$900
Virtual Show Only
“I believe that as an artist, my purpose is to invoke thoughts in the viewer and to inform future viewers of my art, as to what was happening in the time that I was here. This is my way of telling the story. Some works can also be a warning: “Future of Hate” shows what could be if Hate were to continue to fester in our society. ”
Annette was born in Chicago and has lived in Chicago, Mexico City and Arizona. She participated in the Chicano Art Movement in Chicago’s “Little Mexico” in the 1980’s, Self-Help Graphics in East Los Angeles throughout the 1990’s and Xicanindio in Arizona. She received her Bachelor of Art in Art History from ASU and has studied art in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Italy, England, Ireland and Cuba.Annette work includes the creation of over 20 public art pieces throughout the phoenix metro area and participatipation in public art in County Mayo, Ireland.Her work has been displayed nationally and internationally.
AnnetteSextonRuiz.teamdroid.com
Annette Sexton-Ruiz
2050AD- The Future of Hate
Oil on canvas
24 x 18 inches
$1000
Virtual Show Only
click for more information
Annette Sexton-Ruiz
2050AD- The Future of Hate
Oil on canvas
24 x 18 inches
$1000
(with framed magazine with the image on the cover)
Virtual Show Only
“I believe that as an artist, my purpose is to invoke thoughts in the viewer and to inform future viewers of my art, as to what was happening in the time that I was here. This is my way of telling the story. Some works can also be a warning: “Future of Hate” shows what could be if Hate were to continue to fester in our society. ”
Annette was born in Chicago and has lived in Chicago, Mexico City and Arizona. She participated in the Chicano Art Movement in Chicago’s “Little Mexico” in the 1980’s, Self-Help Graphics in East Los Angeles throughout the 1990’s and Xicanindio in Arizona. She received her Bachelor of Art in Art History from ASU and has studied art in Mexico, Puerto Rico, Italy, England, Ireland and Cuba.Annette work includes the creation of over 20 public art pieces throughout the phoenix metro area and participatipation in public art in County Mayo, Ireland.Her work has been displayed nationally and internationally.
AnnetteSextonRuiz.teamdroid.com
Arlene Meyer
Diffusion
Acrylic
12″ x 12″
$300.00
Virtual Show Only
I consider myself an eclectic artist. I love experimenting with different mediums. Recent paintings focus on impressionism and abstracts. I am a juried member of Arizona Artists Guild and On the Edge Gallery in Scottsdale. My paintings have been accepted in many shows. Hidden in the Hills, Glendale Arts Council Juried Shows, Olney Gallery, First Studio Art Gallery, Arizona Artists Juried Shows, and many others.
Art Castro
Bastard Magick
Ink/acrylic collage on paper
23″× 19″
$999.00
Virtual Show Only
click for more information
Art Castro
Bastard Magick
Ink/acrylic collage on paper
23″× 19″
$999.00
See it at First Studio Gallery
A few of the many disturbing things happening in this country and the world, one piece is about state/church confusion and magick symbols used improperly. The next is a question about women’s place and perspectives in/on Christianity. Last one is about the reptilian conspiracy theory.
Art Castro is a Phoenix native, age 55.
“I am a painter and musician. I make art and experimental music to ease my frustration with world. It’s always a learning experience, it’s growth and as long as it makes me happy, I’m satisfied. I would like to hear what someone else thinks of it.”
Art Castro facebook & omniatorpent@gmail.com
Barbara Goldberg
House of Good Intentions
Mixed media
36×24
$349
See it at First Studio Gallery
click for more information
Barbara Goldberg
House of Good Intentions
Mixed media
36×24
$349
See it at First Studio Gallery
I am an artist who loves color and abstract images. It is truly amazing how a line, shape and/or color triggers the mind into completing the message. I paint with palette knives and large brushes to create multiple layers on canvas and/or on digital layers of color. My greatest joy is seeing that special moment when a piece connects to someone. It is as if we become family from that moment onward. I have shown my work at multiple galleries like The Walter Gallery, Sisao Gallery and the WHAM Gallery. I have also had one-woman shows at The Mayo Clinic and the Arizona State University Library. My pieces have been in corporation collections and I have been honored to see my art on the walls of beautiful homes in Arizona. My art has been the recipient of the Vortex Art Award and Artist of Promise Award through Scottsdale Community College several times.
www.BarbGoldbergArt.com
@barb_goldberg_art
Barbara L Bigelow
Equation
Mixed Media Tactile Box
8″ x 6″
$450
See it at First Studio Gallery
click for more information
Barbara L Bigelow
Equation
Mixed Media Tactile Box
8″ x 6″
$450
See it at First Studio Gallery
Barbara Bigelow creates unique mixed media sculptures, crosses, cut tin art, and photography. Each piece is an intense personal moment masterfully created, luring the viewer into a new story.
“Equation” is the third in a trilogy in protest of the Roe v Wade repeal decision in June of 2022. (The first is on private collection and the 2nd is in a show in Anchorage, Alaska the month of May.) I was also just selected to curate a show for the Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council (KAAHC) in May of 2026, entitled “The Art of Memory.” Although art has always been a passion, I consider myself an emerging artist and look for opportunities to immerse myself in art. I had a photography show at Friendship Village of Tempe in November of 2024. My crosses are displayed at Scanlon Fine Art Gallery in Ketchikan.
www.barbarabigelow.com
@barbaralbigelow
Bela Fidel
The World as Ground Zero
Mixed Media
52″H x 24″W x 17.5″D
$7,000
Virtual Show Only
click for more information
Bela Fidel
The World as Ground Zero
Mixed Media
52″H x 24″W x 17.5″D
$7,000
Virtual Show Only
“The World as Ground Zero”” was created a few years after the event of 9/11. It depicts terrorism the world over. The front panel depicts 9/11 and uses images borrowed from Picasso’s “”Guernica””, only turned upside down. The outside flaps depict acts of terrorism against civilians in other parts of the world. Inside flaps show names of terrorist organizations cited by The State Department.
“I have always believed that artists, who live and work with spiritual values, cannot and should not remain indifferent to a conflict in which the highest values of humanity and civilization are at stake” (Picasso)In “The World as Ground Zero” I set out to express our shock and despair at all terrorist acts throughout the world. I wanted the art itself to physically BE the violence of terrorism – as much as the medium would allow. Hence, a collage, which entails cutting and tearing; burning and tearing of the canvas; metal sheets in uneven shapes symbolizing the structure of buildings, buses, cars destroyed. The outward canvas, roughly cut, opens up to show the chaos and the stark violence through the world’s open belly. I avoid rigid and precise composition in order to express the chaos and destabilization of our lives and our civilization, that accompany acts of terrorism everywhere. I see a parallel between Picasso’s “Guernica” and the wanton attacks on civilians the world over. Guernica was not a militarily strategic target, but a cultural symbol to its people. The Twin Towers were a symbol of the U.S. as well as a center of its finances.Guernica was attacked on a market day, where the most people would be killed. As in New York on September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, all over the world, target densely populated areas at times and places where there will be the most possible damage.Picasso’s symbols of pain, despair, shock and terror are primal forms of expression and have a universal value. I have chosen to incorporate a few chosen images of his “Guernica” to both express these emotions and to underline the parallel between the attack on Guernica and those attacks by terrorists on civilians all over the world.As in “Guernica”, “the World as Ground Zero” is in a flat black and white and grey. The only color – red – is sparingly used in the composition and the canvas itself. It symbolizes violence and blood; and echoed in the victim’s banner – the American Flag.“The World as Ground Zero” is a labor of the heart. Although it has no peace in it, the fact that this reality is expressed through Art suggests the hope that all of Man’s expressions of true civilization and creativity will, eventually, overcome evil. THIS IS THE RESISTANCE.”
Bela’s body of work is informed by her experiences of having lived in three different countries and her exposure to their culture and outlook on life. This can be felt in the rich layering and texturing of her abstract work in oils, encaustics and mixed media.Bela strives to continue to distill her truest personal expression through constant exploration, venturing into new territories while staying true to her fidelity to elegant aesthetics.
Bill Keffeler
We Resist
Black and white photograph
24 x 16
$150 –
See it at First Studio Gallery
click for more information
Bill Keffeler
We Resist
Black and white photograph
(digital capture, printed on lustre professional photo paper, mounted on ½” black foam core with ½” float mount)
24 x 16
$150
See it at First Studio Gallery
Proceeds from the sale of this work will be donated to the ACLU of Arizona, in support of their continued efforts to protect civil liberties and the right to protest.
I use black and white photography to distill moments down to their emotional and structural essence. In my work, I’m drawn to the power of contrast—light and shadow, presence and absence—as a way to reveal tensions that often go unnoticed. Documenting the Hands Off protest in Phoenix, I focused not just on the energy of the crowd but on quiet gestures and expressions that speak to collective resilience, fear, and hope.
Bill Keffeler is a Phoenix-based fine art photographer who works primarily in black and white. His images explore the emotional undercurrents of public and private spaces through a documentary-style lens. Influenced by a lifelong attention to nuance and human complexity, his recent work has focused on protest, memory, and the quieter moments that shape collective experience. He exhibits regularly and publishes zines as part of an ongoing collaboration exploring the interplay of image, language, and place.
www.seetheother.com
Instagram: @seetheother
Bill Keffeler
Right vs. Wrong
Black and white photograph
24 x 16
$150 –
Virtual Show Only
click for more information
Bill Keffeler
Right vs. Wrong
Black and white photograph
(digital capture, printed on lustre professional photo paper, mounted on ½” black foam core with ½” float mount)
24 x 16
$150
Proceeds from the sale of this work will be donated to the ACLU of Arizona, in support of their continued efforts to protect civil liberties and the right to protest.
I use black and white photography to distill moments down to their emotional and structural essence. In my work, I’m drawn to the power of contrast—light and shadow, presence and absence—as a way to reveal tensions that often go unnoticed. Documenting the Hands Off protest in Phoenix, I focused not just on the energy of the crowd but on quiet gestures and expressions that speak to collective resilience, fear, and hope.
Bill Keffeler is a Phoenix-based fine art photographer who works primarily in black and white. His images explore the emotional undercurrents of public and private spaces through a documentary-style lens. Influenced by a lifelong attention to nuance and human complexity, his recent work has focused on protest, memory, and the quieter moments that shape collective experience. He exhibits regularly and publishes zines as part of an ongoing collaboration exploring the interplay of image, language, and place.
www.seetheother.com
Instagram: @seetheother
Bill Keffeler
No One is Free Until We’re All Free
Black and white photograph
24 x 16
$150 –
Virtual Show Only
click for more information
Bill Keffeler
No One is Free Until We’re All Free
Black and white photograph
(digital capture, printed on lustre professional photo paper, mounted on ½” black foam core with ½” float mount)
24 x 16
$150
Proceeds from the sale of this work will be donated to the ACLU of Arizona, in support of their continued efforts to protect civil liberties and the right to protest.
I use black and white photography to distill moments down to their emotional and structural essence. In my work, I’m drawn to the power of contrast—light and shadow, presence and absence—as a way to reveal tensions that often go unnoticed. Documenting the Hands Off protest in Phoenix, I focused not just on the energy of the crowd but on quiet gestures and expressions that speak to collective resilience, fear, and hope.
Bill Keffeler is a Phoenix-based fine art photographer who works primarily in black and white. His images explore the emotional undercurrents of public and private spaces through a documentary-style lens. Influenced by a lifelong attention to nuance and human complexity, his recent work has focused on protest, memory, and the quieter moments that shape collective experience. He exhibits regularly and publishes zines as part of an ongoing collaboration exploring the interplay of image, language, and place.
www.seetheother.com
Instagram: @seetheother
Bob Allen
PIN-ULTIMATE.
Mixed Media
36×36
$2000
For me, making art usually involves telling a story (but not always). I like to work on a stretched canvas surface to create compositions that incorporate original or found imagery, with mixed media that could include stencils, fragmented text, assorted ephermera and other collage elements. I manipulate the composition with the addition of a lively color palette and textured layering built directly onto the surface of the painting. I have a strong sense of design & color, always enjoy the curious juxtaposition and like visual wordplay. I also like to use numbers, repetitive patterns and ornamentation. I recently completed a solo show, titled SHOW & TELL, with Five15 Arts at Chartreuse Gallery. It featured 25 mixed media paintings, 23 of which were completed in the the last 18 months. I am a former member of Eye Lounge Collective in Roosevelt Row. I exhibit nationally, as well as locally and do commissions. Since retiring from the work world in 2012, I have participated in 80+ shows. I consider myself fortunate and lucky to make art daily in my north Phoenix studio.
21crunch.com
@robertallen144
Bob Allen
WITNESS TO THE END OF THINGS
Mixed Medium
36×36
$2,000
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Bob Allen
WITNESS TO THE END OF THINGS
Mixed Medium
36×36
$2,000
For me, making art usually involves telling a story (but not always). I like to work on a stretched canvas surface to create compositions that incorporate original or found imagery, with mixed media that could include stencils, fragmented text, assorted ephermera and other collage elements. I manipulate the composition with the addition of a lively color palette and textured layering built directly onto the surface of the painting. I have a strong sense of design & color, always enjoy the curious juxtaposition and like visual wordplay. I also like to use numbers, repetitive patterns and ornamentation. I recently completed a solo show, titled SHOW & TELL, with Five15 Arts at Chartreuse Gallery. It featured 25 mixed media paintings, 23 of which were completed in the the last 18 months. I am a former member of Eye Lounge Collective in Roosevelt Row. I exhibit nationally, as well as locally and do commissions. Since retiring from the work world in 2012, I have participated in 80+ shows. I consider myself fortunate and lucky to make art daily in my north Phoenix studio.
21crunch.com
@robertallen144
Bob Allen
BORDERLINE
Mixed Medium
36×36
$2,400
For me, making art usually involves telling a story (but not always). I like to work on a stretched canvas surface to create compositions that incorporate original or found imagery, with mixed media that could include stencils, fragmented text, assorted ephermera and other collage elements. I manipulate the composition with the addition of a lively color palette and textured layering built directly onto the surface of the painting. I have a strong sense of design & color, always enjoy the curious juxtaposition and like visual wordplay. I also like to use numbers, repetitive patterns and ornamentation. I recently completed a solo show, titled SHOW & TELL, with Five15 Arts at Chartreuse Gallery. It featured 25 mixed media paintings, 23 of which were completed in the the last 18 months. I am a former member of Eye Lounge Collective in Roosevelt Row. I exhibit nationally, as well as locally and do commissions. Since retiring from the work world in 2012, I have participated in 80+ shows. I consider myself fortunate and lucky to make art daily in my north Phoenix studio.
21crunch.com
@robertallen144
Brett Morrison
“War on the Inside”
Pen and Paint markers
17” x 11’
$250
See it at First Studio
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Brett Morrison
“War on the Inside”
Pen and Paint markers
17” x 11’
$250
I find the internal battle from within being expressed on paper through diligent work. I often use symbolism to create themes about our fight from within. I often find myself in a struggle between love and fear. That is my purpose. To determine which is which and learn to act on them.. I’m a self taught artist from Phoenix, Arizona. I found art as a way of dealing with stressors in my life. It took awhile before I thought of myself as a professional artist but thanks to a lot of people, I do now.
instagram.com/avatarartists
Carolyn Tolliver
Hope Shines Through
watercolor
22 x 15
$600
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Carolyn Tolliver

watercolor
22 x 15
$600
My artwork is shaped by nature, human influence, and global occurrences. The plant system that purifies each breath we take, sunlight that fosters growth, and the darkness that cools and allows the planet to recuperate, all profoundly inspire me. Human achievements in architecture and innovations are commendable. However, it is concerning that adequate measures are not being taken to maintain the delicate equilibrium of our planet. As an artist, I feel compelled to reflect both beauty and concerns through my creations. Watercolor allows me to convey emotions and feelings through my paintings. This medium enables the depiction of tranquility as well as unrest via movement and color. By blending and layering three or more colors, harmony is achieved. This painting contains a distinct narrative, with the title providing insight into this story.
BIo
Carolyn participated in art activities at an early age, including County Fairs as a teenager. Her family relocated to Arizona during her high school years. After retiring, Carolyn enrolled at Glendale Community College, submersing herself in art courses. One instructor, Darlene Goto, encouraged her to enroll in a watercolor class. She was amazed by the harmony that could be achieved with only a few colors and a little water. Watercolor has become her favorite medium. Carolyn has been an active member of several art organizations within the valley, serving in various capacities such as President, Vice President, Gallery Manager, and currently serves as Show Chair for the Glendale Arts Council. Her artwork is displayed in galleries and exhibitions throughout the Phoenix area. Carolyn’s paintings are part of permanent collections at Midwestern University and Century Editions On-Line Gallery. Her works are held in private collections across the United States, and in Mexico, and Germany.
Bryan Robertson
duckspeak
acrylic and oil on panel
28″ x 20″
$750
Virtual Show Only
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Bryan Robertson
Bryan Robertson
duckspeak
acrylic and oil on panel
28″ x 20″
$750
I combine painting with digital media,creating a unique visual language. Inspired by Orwell’s language, my current work explores themes of propaganda, truth manipulation, and the clash between physical and virtual realities. Drawing from Dada, I rearrange modern life through hypnotic, looping motion, capturing the rhythms of the Internet Age.
Raised in the vibrant, gritty heart of St. Louis, Bryan Robertson draws inspiration from his late father, a political scientist, and grandparents who fled Soviet oppression in Poland and Czechoslovakia. Robertson carries a legacy of resistance against authoritarian control with inner-city roots woven from the stories of refugees and immigrants from Somalia, Bosnia, and Central America, whose tales of survival under surveillance and tyranny deepen his resolve. These experiences instilled resilience, freedom, and the shared human experience in him, which he explores in his multimedia art. He has exhibited nationally and internationally and featured in print and online media, showcasing his talent as a multimedia artist. Robertson is passionate about visual arts and sees it as a universal language connecting people, telling stories that transcend borders and generations.
www.bryan-robertson.com
linkedin.com/in/bryan-robertson00100
Carole Perry
We Stand With Ukraine
glass & steel
16″ h x 12″ w x 4″ d
$245.
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Carole Perry
We Stand With Ukraine
glass & steel
16″ h x 12″ w x 4″ d
$245.
With over 35 years into this amazing adventure, I’m still overwhelmed by the sheer joy of creating a piece of glass sculpture by reconfiguring light (air) into a solid form. Finding my own way, without set procedures, feels like the equivalent of discovering the New World. Learning to live off my own feedback, with no measuring stick beyond my personal standards, has been the most rewarding experience of my life.
A native of southern Oregon, Carole Perry has been working in her desert glass studio in Cave Creek, AZ for over 35 years. Perry is best known for her Glass Tapestries, hand sculpted baskets made from thousands of fine glass threads and crushed glass, which can be found in glass galleries across the country. She has been featured in local and national publications with solo and group exhibitions for over 30 years.She and her husband also create custom glass dinnerware, gifts and awards in their Laughing Glass Studio. These pieces, both sculptural and functional, can be seen during the annual Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour.
LaughingGlass.com
Carole Perry
Vaccine Fever
glass & steel
9″h x 9″w x 8″d
$365.
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Carole Perry
Vaccine Fever
glass & steel
9″h x 9″w x 8″d
$365.
With over 35 years into this amazing adventure, I’m still overwhelmed by the sheer joy of creating a piece of glass sculpture by reconfiguring light (air) into a solid form. Finding my own way, without set procedures, feels like the equivalent of discovering the New World. Learning to live off my own feedback, with no measuring stick beyond my personal standards, has been the most rewarding experience of my life.
A native of southern Oregon, Carole Perry has been working in her desert glass studio in Cave Creek, AZ for over 35 years. Perry is best known for her Glass Tapestries, hand sculpted baskets made from thousands of fine glass threads and crushed glass, which can be found in glass galleries across the country. She has been featured in local and national publications with solo and group exhibitions for over 30 years.She and her husband also create custom glass dinnerware, gifts and awards in their Laughing Glass Studio. These pieces, both sculptural and functional, can be seen during the annual Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour.
LaughingGlass.com
Caroline Wargo
“Buck Off”
Acrylic
24 x 36”
NFS
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Caroline Wargo
“Buck Off”
Acrylic
24 x 36”
NFS
Art is my voice. It’s my most important resource – better than words and no mispronunciation. They have corralled us, saddled and bridled us. Now they decide how and where we live and who and when we breed. Once we’re old, they turn us into glue sticks and puppy chow. They can go Buck Off!
ctwargo.com
Caron Sada
Narrative: Fill Up, Spew Out
Digital Drawing
5 x 5
$160
Virtual Show Only
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Caron Sada
Narrative: Fill Up, Spew Out
Digital Drawing
5 x 5
$160
Caron is an artist, educator, and expert in organizational psychology whose creative work explores learning, culture, and change. With roots in both the arts and the sciences, she uses abstraction, metaphor, and simplicity to surface complex ideas and invite reflection. Guided by egalitarian values, her practice centers the belief that meaningful transformation starts with curiosity—for each of us and all of us.
Caron lives in Peoria, Arizona, and brings a lifetime of eclectic experiences—from working in family businesses, big business and startups to teaching psychology and leading culture change initiatives in higher education. With degrees in speech and hearing sciences, business, and organizational psychology, her work blends academic insight with creative expression. Whether designing professional development programs, curating learning experiences, or making art, Caron is drawn to the subtle shifts that make change possible. She is skeptical of prestige hierarchies and has grown to love simple forms and big questions.
www.caronsart.com
LinkedIn – Dr. Caron Sada
Caron Sada
Cross the Line: More Similar than Different
Digital Drawing
5 x 5
$160
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Caron Sada
Cross the Line: More Similar than Different
Digital Drawing
5 x 5
$160
Caron is an artist, educator, and expert in organizational psychology whose creative work explores learning, culture, and change. With roots in both the arts and the sciences, she uses abstraction, metaphor, and simplicity to surface complex ideas and invite reflection. Guided by egalitarian values, her practice centers the belief that meaningful transformation starts with curiosity—for each of us and all of us.
Caron lives in Peoria, Arizona, and brings a lifetime of eclectic experiences—from working in family businesses, big business and startups to teaching psychology and leading culture change initiatives in higher education. With degrees in speech and hearing sciences, business, and organizational psychology, her work blends academic insight with creative expression. Whether designing professional development programs, curating learning experiences, or making art, Caron is drawn to the subtle shifts that make change possible. She is skeptical of prestige hierarchies and has grown to love simple forms and big questions.
www.caronsart.com
LinkedIn – Dr. Caron Sada
Cheryl Thomas
Target
Oil painting on canvas
30 x 24 inches
$1,200
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Cheryl Thomas
Target
Oil painting on canvas
30 x 24 inches
$1,200
My work is always about my experiences as a woman. I work in painting, fiber and mixed media. I often substitute animals or objects to tell the story or portray the emotion. It is my voice. It is the way I resist. I am a native Arizonan. I grew up in Winslow, part of a generational railroad family. I attended NAU earning degrees in Arts Management and Art Education. I lived in Savannah, Georgia where I earned an MFA in Painting. My art is in collections around the country. I currently reside in Kingman with my son and my dog.
cherylathomas.com
IG: @artcat1715
Cheryl Thomas
Ersatz America
Mixed Media
13 x 7 x 3 inches
$800
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Cheryl Thomas
Ersatz America
Mixed – purse, suture cotton, flag, dollar bills, compass, wasp nest, jail braid, bandana
13 x 7 x 3 inches
$800
My work is always about my experiences as a woman. I work in painting, fiber and mixed media. I often substitute animals or objects to tell the story or portray the emotion. It is my voice. It is the way I resist. I am a native Arizonan. I grew up in Winslow, part of a generational railroad family. I attended NAU earning degrees in Arts Management and Art Education. I lived in Savannah, Georgia where I earned an MFA in Painting. My art is in collections around the country. I currently reside in Kingman with my son and my dog.
cherylathomas.com
IG: @artcat1715
Chuck LaVoie
We the People
License Plates on Wood Panel
75 x 45
$3,500
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Chuck LaVoie
We the People
License Plates on Wood Panel
75 x 45
$3,500
I create bold and colorful images from repurposed materials. Much of my current work is made of license plates and bicycle chain that have been affixed to wood panels.Although the final image is paramount, I most enjoy the process, the doing. I like the challenge of working within the limited palette provided by the materials. Aside from cutting them, I alter the license plates as little as possible. The work is anchored in my environment, with southwestern, Mexican, and Americana influences. Viewers often feel a sense of nostalgia when viewing my pieces while also appreciating the importance of re-use and recycling.”
Chuck LaVoie is a semiretired home builder who lives with his wife and son in Fountain Hills. His work has been shown at various gallery spaces and venues throughout the greater Phoenix area and Tucson.
instagram.com/lavoieart
Chuck LaVoie
Do Not Enter
Acrylic on Aluminum Street Sign
30 x 30
$300
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Chuck LaVoie
Do Not Enter
Acrylic on Aluminum Street Sign
30 x 30
$300
I create bold and colorful images from repurposed materials. Much of my current work is made of license plates and bicycle chain that have been affixed to wood panels.Although the final image is paramount, I most enjoy the process, the doing. I like the challenge of working within the limited palette provided by the materials. Aside from cutting them, I alter the license plates as little as possible. The work is anchored in my environment, with southwestern, Mexican, and Americana influences. Viewers often feel a sense of nostalgia when viewing my pieces while also appreciating the importance of re-use and recycling.”
Chuck LaVoie is a semiretired home builder who lives with his wife and son in Fountain Hills. His work has been shown at various gallery spaces and venues throughout the greater Phoenix area and Tucson.
instagram.com/lavoieart
Craig Davoll
The Deplorables Strike Back
mixed media
24”x 17”x15”
$840
Virtual Show Only
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Craig Davoll
The Deplorables Strike Back
Cardboard, packing paper, packing peanuts, pillow batting, wire hangers and chicken wire
24”x 17”x15”
$840
I’ve always felt like I was limited in being able to express my inner feelings. It wasn’t until I started creating art that I started to find my voice. As time has passed I’ve tried to dive deeper into how feel about myself, society, our care for our environment and the world as a whole. I want my art to be an expression of my inner most feelings, joy, sadness, anger and curiosity. With each piece that I create I’m exploring new mediums and methods. I want to continue to challenge myself to learn and grow with each day. I want my art to help others see the beauty in things that most others would discard or not see any value in. To turn discarded items into something beautiful, thought provoking, functional or just fun. I try to always incorporate recycled, repurposed or refurbished items into every piece that I make. The less that we throw into the landfill, the better off we will be. I will always try to convey a message or vision that will hopefully spur thought, emotions and hopefully conversations to promote a change for the better.
@tablethataz
Cynthia Dunn-Selph
Bound
Gouache and Watercolor
8″x10″
$125
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Cynthia Dunn-Selph
Bound
Gouache and Watercolor
8″x10″
$125
“Bound” was a response to being female in an environment that is increasingly hostile to empowered women.
“Heart Chakra” is a piece to remind us that operating from our heart center is what matters most in an ever changing world.
I am a mixed media artist and photographer that has been exhibiting and teaching in Arizona and California for over 40 years. I have been a member of several cooperative galleries, on the board of art organizations, and am currently the President of the Arizona Artists Guild.
alldunnart.com
@All Dunn Art
Cynthia Dunn-Selph
Heart Chakra
Encaustic
Mixed Media
19″x6″
$275
Virtual Show Only
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Cynthia Dunn-Selph
Heart Chakra
Encaustic
Mixed Media
19″x6″
$275
“Bound” was a response to being female in an environment that is increasingly hostile to empowered women.
“Heart Chakra” is a piece to remind us that operating from our heart center is what matters most in an ever changing world.
I am a mixed media artist and photographer that has been exhibiting and teaching in Arizona and California for over 40 years. I have been a member of several cooperative galleries, on the board of art organizations, and am currently the President of the Arizona Artists Guild.
alldunnart.com
@All Dunn Art
Danielle Wood
Intertwined, We are Better When We Work Together
Ceramic, Thread
30 x 21 x 3
$175
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Danielle Wood
Intertwined, We are Better When We Work Together
Ceramic, Thread
30 x 21 x 3
$175
This piece is made in contemplation of the division that has been trying to be sewn in the United States amongst its citizens in regards to their politics through politicians, the news, and social media. We are stronger together and we must fight to not be conquered through division. We are stronger together and we deserve a country “for the people, by the people.” This piece represents our connectedness and our strength, when we stand together for the principles we believe in, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for everyone.”
Danielle Wood received her MFA from New Mexico State University in 2012 and her BFA from Arizona State University in 2006. Wood completed a residency at Anderson Ranch Art Center in 2014 and Red Lodge Clay Center in 2019. Her work has been on display at the ASU Ceramic Studio Tour 2015-Present, Local Light by Scottsdale Public Art, Water=Life project by Mesa Arts Center, Spark! Mesa’s Festival of Creativity, 37th Annual Contemporary Crafts Exhibition at the Mesa Art Center, INFLUX Cycle 6, Artlink’s 18th and 19th Annual Juried Exhibitions. She has a permanent installation on display at Illuminate Apartments funded by the Baron Purchase award. Wood has also created public artwork for Local Light by Scottsdale Public Art in fall 2018. Danielle exhibits locally, regionally, nationally, and currently has work in the permanent collection at New Mexico State University Art Museum and San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts.
www.daniellewood7@gmail.com
@daniellewoodart
Darlene Ritter
Red, White and Blue’s Protest
Acrylic
24″ x 24″
$400
Virtual Show Only
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Darlene Ritter
Red, White and Blue’s Protest
Acrylic
24″ x 24″
$400
This painting represents all the Americans who stand against tyranny and strongly resist what is going on under the Trump administration! I am an non-objective artist who often displays my art in galleries in or near Phoenix, Arizona. I support and belong to many art organizations in the area. I am also a retired art teacher of many years.
drittart.com
Facebook: Darlene Mount Ritter
David Pennington
King Size
analog paper collage from digital sources
8″x10″
$500
See it at First Studio Gallery
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David Pennington
King Size
analog paper collage from digital sources
8″x10″
$500
This is the way I process the world around me by presenting “things to consider”. My work engages appropriation, irony, metaphor and existential reflection as cultural critique. It is an observation of symbolic and emotional connections with reflection on deeper archetypes. What results is the artwork.
I have been an Arizona artist from 1979 starting in a seminal Bisbee art scene with a later move to Tucson. I have worked with both collage and mixed media narratives along with periods of abstract painting. The work exhibited here is analog paper collage from digitally sourced and manipulated images.
davidpenningtoncollageart.com
David Pennington
The Party Crashers
analog paper collage from digital sources
8″x10″
$500
See it at First Studio Gallery
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David Pennington
The Party Crashers
analog paper collage from digital sources
8″x10″
$500
This is the way I process the world around me by presenting “things to consider”. My work engages appropriation, irony, metaphor and existential reflection as cultural critique. It is an observation of symbolic and emotional connections with reflection on deeper archetypes. What results is the artwork.
I have been an Arizona artist from 1979 starting in a seminal Bisbee art scene with a later move to Tucson. I have worked with both collage and mixed media narratives along with periods of abstract painting. The work exhibited here is analog paper collage from digitally sourced and manipulated images.
davidpenningtoncollageart.com
David Pennington
Starado
analog paper collage from digital sources
8″x10″
$500
See it at First Studio Gallery
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David Pennington
Starado
analog paper collage from digital sources
8″x10″
$500
This is the way I process the world around me by presenting “things to consider”. My work engages appropriation, irony, metaphor and existential reflection as cultural critique. It is an observation of symbolic and emotional connections with reflection on deeper archetypes. What results is the artwork.
I have been an Arizona artist from 1979 starting in a seminal Bisbee art scene with a later move to Tucson. I have worked with both collage and mixed media narratives along with periods of abstract painting. The work exhibited here is analog paper collage from digitally sourced and manipulated images.
davidpenningtoncollageart.com
Deborah Silvis
Sacred Sites
Color Photography
16″ x 24″
$350
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Deborah Silvis
Deborah Silvis
Sacred Sites
Color Photography
16″ x 24″
$350
Sacred Sites, a powerful image enlarged to a mural size of 5’x7’ representing Indigenous Women’s Rights and Resilience was exhibited at the former Pueblo Grande Museum in Phx. It went on to be featured at the Museum of Indigenous Art in Prescott, Az. for their Broken Promises exhibition.and is permanently on display at the Dine College Museum. Arriving to Arizona and capturing the Southwest on celluloid began as a pursuit for Deborah in 1977.
As a photographer, she considered herself a traditionalist or a “purist” at heart, however, she also enjoyed experimenting with alternative processes and continues to employ various printing methods as she transitioned to the digital realm in 2013. Her work has been exhibited throughout Arizona since the early 80’s and publications include various magazines such as Native Peoples. Her photography has been juried as finalists and exhibited at the International Biennial Photography Exhibition in Berlin, Germany and Barcelona, Spain. From the Berlin Exhibit, Deborah’s work was included the book entitled, Emotions and Commotions Across Cultures.She is a member of The Store Artist Co-operative at Mesa Art Center and most recently has exhibited at Art Intersection in Gilbert and the Herberger Theater in Phoenix.
Denyse Pappas
Think I’m going Crazy
Sculpture- ceramic, wood , and barbed wire
24” X 11”
$300
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Denyse Pappas
Denyse Pappas
Think I’m going Crazy
Sculpture- ceramic, wood , and barbed wire
24” X 11”
$300
This art was created from a song I wrote. It represents how life, in this current political climate ignites fear, represented by the cavernous wood and sharp barbed wire. It is hard to keep trying to traverse through it, at some times with no avail. The fear becomes a chink in the armor of our own mental courage…questioning our own sanity represented by the panicking person. Creating this mixed media piece gives me a place to put my fear and anxiety, resisting its consuming nature.
click here to listen to the song: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZjHSh5ZeUK6MwF8JI4GhQjsjg1YASzm4SFy
I am an Arizona native . I have 4 years in the school of architecture and a BFA in computer animation from ASU. I went back to school to get my masters in teaching in order to be able to have a career along with raising 2 sons. I have been teaching for 20 years in the Madison school district. Throughout my career I’ve often found my peace and rejuvenation through art and writing songs.
Diego Pérez
The Trump´s Wall
oil on canvas
72 x 96 ”
28,000
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Diego Pérez
Diego Pérez
The Trump´s Wall
oil on canvas
72 x 96 ”
28,000
As an artist, storytelling is fundamental for my painting so I choose fun elements, iconic figures, and symbols to construct my compositions; especially regarding human behavior and their traditions. Nevertheless, my paintings constantly emulate its people’s diversity and multiculturalist identity. The importance of portraying people’s heritage is the core of my painting. As a Mexican immigrant, my visual narrative has evolved through the years. I had been more concerned with displaying my cultural heritage through a colorful and vibrant eclecticism that incorporates the Indigenous and Latino influence but is also related to American culture. You will notice that my art is quite diverse, and I feel that’s what human life is like made up of fragments of our own daily experiences.
Diego Pérez (1987) is a Mexican artist focused on humor, irony, and traditional techniques. He started painting as a teenager and studied for his Bachelor’s degree in the Art School La Esmeralda, which was founded in 1927 by Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and other Mexican artists. His artistic formation is based on traditional techniques and Mexican muralism. Pérez has completed many public art projects as an individual artist, mainly in Mexico City and Arizona.
Currently, he is working on the Valley Metro South Extension of the Light Rail in the Broadway/Central station in Phoenix. Pérez has been awarded on several occasions, in 2007 he won the INJUVE National Art and Health Award in Mexico for his painting. In 2014, he won a commission for the National Museum of Science Universum, where he has a permanent exhibition of ten mathematicians’ portraits. Pérez has been living and producing in Phoenix for several years, he has been recognized by The Arizona Republic in his monthly program, Who’s Next, which showcases emerging leaders in several areas under age 40. Also, in 2017 he won first place in the exhibition Conceptions Arts in Los Angeles, and first place in the juried exhibition The Sunniest Place in Earth by The Yuma Art Center. He has exhibited in Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Greece, and the United States.
https://www.instagram.com/artofdiegoperez/
Diego Pérez
The Madonna of Migrants
oil on canvas
30 x 24″
2000
Virtual Show Only
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Diego Pérez
Diego Pérez
The Madonna of Migrants
oil on canvas
30 x 24″
2000
As an artist, storytelling is fundamental for my painting so I choose fun elements, iconic figures, and symbols to construct my compositions; especially regarding human behavior and their traditions. Nevertheless, my paintings constantly emulate its people’s diversity and multiculturalist identity. The importance of portraying people’s heritage is the core of my painting. As a Mexican immigrant, my visual narrative has evolved through the years. I had been more concerned with displaying my cultural heritage through a colorful and vibrant eclecticism that incorporates the Indigenous and Latino influence but is also related to American culture. You will notice that my art is quite diverse, and I feel that’s what human life is like made up of fragments of our own daily experiences.
Diego Pérez (1987) is a Mexican artist focused on humor, irony, and traditional techniques. He started painting as a teenager and studied for his Bachelor’s degree in the Art School La Esmeralda, which was founded in 1927 by Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and other Mexican artists. His artistic formation is based on traditional techniques and Mexican muralism. Pérez has completed many public art projects as an individual artist, mainly in Mexico City and Arizona.
Currently, he is working on the Valley Metro South Extension of the Light Rail in the Broadway/Central station in Phoenix. Pérez has been awarded on several occasions, in 2007 he won the INJUVE National Art and Health Award in Mexico for his painting. In 2014, he won a commission for the National Museum of Science Universum, where he has a permanent exhibition of ten mathematicians’ portraits. Pérez has been living and producing in Phoenix for several years, he has been recognized by The Arizona Republic in his monthly program, Who’s Next, which showcases emerging leaders in several areas under age 40. Also, in 2017 he won first place in the exhibition Conceptions Arts in Los Angeles, and first place in the juried exhibition The Sunniest Place in Earth by The Yuma Art Center. He has exhibited in Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Greece, and the United States.
https://www.instagram.com/artofdiegoperez/
Doris Marie Provine
Our Work, Our Country
Oil
16 H x 20 W
$300
Virtual Show Only
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Doris Marie Provine
Our Work, Our Country
Oil
16 H x 20 W
$300
I have gifted and sold numerous paintings and sketches, and donated several for raffles. One of my paintings even went to Vietnam. Currently, five of my paintings are on permanent display at the Morrison Institute in Phoenix, and I am the Emeritus College curator for art at ASU’s downtown campus. This Spring I had two pieces at the Chandler Center for the Arts (juried) and one at the Herberger (juried). Currently I have one painting on exhibit at the Foundre Mixed Masters exhibit. My unjuried work this Spring has been at the OneOhOne Gallery in Mesa and the Tempe History Museum in Tempe.
Doris Marie Provine is of two minds. She has always loved drawing and the arts. Her academic side defined her professional life, however. She is a Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University. Educated as a political scientist and lawyer (BS University of Chicago; JD and PhD Cornell University), she taught for two decades at Syracuse University before coming to ASU to direct the School of Justice Studies. She is author or co-author of a dozen books and many articles. Since retirement in 2011, Provine has had more time to focus on her art. She is a member of the Tempe Artists Guild and currently serves as its president. She enjoys using oils, watercolor, acrylic, charcoal, and pastels to paint wildlife, beloved pets, figures, and landscapes. She has a particular passion for plein air painting.
marieprovine.com
@marieprovine
Ellen Van Pelt
The New America
Mixed Media Sculpture
12 x 18 x 10
$600.00
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Ellen Van Pelt
The New America
Mixed Media Sculpture
12 x 18 x 10
$600.00
This mixed media sculpture presents a point of view about the current political state in America. It seems that current administrative politics are embracing values that appeared globally in the period prior to and during WWII. Does the old saying “Those who do not learn from History are doomed to repeat it” apply to America’s current state? My mixed media sculptures contain thought provoking images using found objects, original art and photography, wood, metal, paint and assorted objects. As a resident of North Phoenix I combine my love of the Sonoran Desert with my previous experiences in New York City and Washington DC.The artist as story teller who presents a strong cultural narrative is my objective and expression. My educational background is a Fine Arts degree from Rutgers University, and studies at Parsons School of Design and Fashion Institute of Technology.
Instagram / hurlyburlyart
Gerri Beadle-Murray
Poisoned
Mixed Media
23 1/4″ X 19 1/2″
$550.00
Virtual Show Only
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Gerri Beadle-Murray
Poisoned
Mixed Media
23 1/4″ X 19 1/2″
$550.
My “Poisoned” series represents the continued allowance of poisons in our environment to the detriment of wildlife. Soon wildlife’s safe haven will be furthered poisoned with the opening up of our public lands for oil, gas and mining extraction. This series is dedicated to the raptors who have died due to man’s disregard to the natural world. I am a native of Phoenix, AZ. Majored in art at ASU, however, I ended up taken a different path. Worked as a Veterinary Technician for 12 years then 30+ years as a Chemist in the compliance water industry. Once retired, returned to art and combined my work experiences with my passion for art. Currently I am working with colored pencil, graphite and watercolor.
Harrie Handler
Don’t Allow The Beauty to Disappear
Acrylic
30 x 60 Triptych
$1,800
Virtual Show Only
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Harrie Handler
Don’t Allow The Beauty to Disappear
Acrylic
30 x 60 Triptych
$1,800
Creation is where I lose myself and find myself again. In the studio, time dissolves. Acrylics become whispers of memory, pools of feeling, rivers of imagined places. I move between adding and taking away — a delicate unraveling — shaping something unseen into something inevitable. Shapes, shadows, colors, textures — they murmur and collide, and slowly, they breathe. Photography was my first language, and it lingers still. Composition, rhythm, negative space — these are stitched into me. Even in abstraction, I find myself chasing that same hidden structure, the unseen spine that holds a story upright.
Tucson native Harrie pursued a BFA in art education and photography at the University of Arizona, where she was the first student awarded a scholarship for a photography portfolio and graduated as Outstanding Student in Fine Arts. She studied under iconic photographers including Jack Welpott and Jerry Uelsmann, and met Ansel Adams while volunteering at the Center for Creative Photography. After a 28-year teaching career, Harrie now devotes herself to painting — working primarily in acrylics, where texture, color, and intuition guide her process.
artbyharrie.com
www.instagram.com/abstract.art.by.harrie
Heidi Bambauer
VooDoo Don
Felt
2x2x6
$666.00
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Heidi Bambauer
VooDoo Don
Felt
2x2x6
$666.
“Voodoo Don DollShoe liftsConstitutional Crisis Hero’s Ear Pantyliner Shellacked WigCovergirl Orange 47Pre Soiled DiaperGideons Reverse Scripture BibleVoodoo Pin”
Heidi Bambauer is a socially-minded, multidisciplinary artist who uses her creative expression to resist injustices and oppression. After studying under the well-known Fiber Artist, Ann Morton, Heidi was inspired to create works of resistance with fiber. The historic, cultural, and spiritual significance of wool fiber and the felting process gives her a profound sense of connection with the courageous artists of resistance of the past and present.
Heidi Dauphin
Baby Bud Quilt
Birth control pill packets, thread
16.5 x 12.5″
NFS
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Heidi Dauphin
Baby Bud Quilt
Birth control pill packets, thread
16.5 x 12.5″
NFS
My artistic identity is that of a collector and gatherer. I think of my creative process as a journey that began long ago. I am traveling through life picking up bits and pieces of memories, items, places, and people along the way: all affecting my work. I concentrate on the accumulation of these things and incorporate multiples and repetition in my work. I am drawn to patterns, grids, maps, numbers, calendars, and mathematical manipulations for inspiration. I examine the ideas of micro and macro within the arrangements of my collections. My work is unique in that I often use materials that people throw out, such as a list, a tiny object in your pocket, or something I find on the ground like an old shoe tread. I create strong overall designs to draw viewers in from a distance, but love to incorporate small details that are discovered upon closer inspection.
Baby Bud Quilt reflects my love for collecting/saving even the most mundane items, grids, and quilt patterns. It is also a commentary on and brings attention to women’s health, the freedom of choice, population control, and personal freedoms, which are all in question under our current political structure. “Heidi Dauphin is a mixed media/ceramic artist, born in 1970 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Heidi earned a MFA in 2001 and BFA in 1992 from the University of Michigan. Heidi’s career started with teaching high school art in Michigan and followed by working as gallerist and curator in Massachusetts. Moving to Phoenix in 2004, Heidi focused on art making and has completed several large-scale Public Art Projects, including Valley Metro Light Rail, City of Phoenix, Avondale, and Tempe. She is also the Exhibitions Manager at Shemer Art Center.Between public art projects, Heidi concentrates on her studio practice. She is a collector of memories, objects, and places: all affecting her work. Throughout her career, she has completed three yearlong art projects (2000, 2010, 2020) that involved making art and collecting every day for a year. Heidi feels this ritual is essential to her art making process.
www.heididauphin.com
@heididauphin
Ira Della Monica
The Scream
acrylic
24×36
$900
Animals have always been my voice for the emotions I struggle to express—the hidden thoughts, buried feelings, and unspoken opinions I often keep to myself. Through them, I communicate what I don’t always feel safe or ready to say out loud. At the core of my work is a longing for peace, kindness, and acceptance.In both my art and my life, animals offer a kind of quiet healing. They help me process fear, anger, and resentment, becoming both subject and companion in my creative journey. Most of the animals I paint are ones I’ve spent significant time with—each carrying a story, a memory, or a lesson that continues to shape me.
I was born and raised in Southern California, graduated from Sonoma State University with an art degree and received a graphic arts certificate from UCLA. My deep connection with animals stemmed from childhood pets and 25 years of competitive horseback riding and witnessing the benefits of therapeutic riding in people with special needs. Animals are a repetitive theme in my work. I moved to Mesa, Arizona in 2017 to pursue an occupational therapy master’s degree. Through a series of life altering events during Covid 2020 I rekindled my spiritually with painting, nature and the animals around me.
https://iradellamonica.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pippin.smith.33/
Ira Della Monica
Angry Alice
acrylic
20 x16
$600
Animals have always been my voice for the emotions I struggle to express—the hidden thoughts, buried feelings, and unspoken opinions I often keep to myself. Through them, I communicate what I don’t always feel safe or ready to say out loud. At the core of my work is a longing for peace, kindness, and acceptance.In both my art and my life, animals offer a kind of quiet healing. They help me process fear, anger, and resentment, becoming both subject and companion in my creative journey. Most of the animals I paint are ones I’ve spent significant time with—each carrying a story, a memory, or a lesson that continues to shape me.
I was born and raised in Southern California, graduated from Sonoma State University with an art degree and received a graphic arts certificate from UCLA. My deep connection with animals stemmed from childhood pets and 25 years of competitive horseback riding and witnessing the benefits of therapeutic riding in people with special needs. Animals are a repetitive theme in my work. I moved to Mesa, Arizona in 2017 to pursue an occupational therapy master’s degree. Through a series of life altering events during Covid 2020 I rekindled my spiritually with painting, nature and the animals around me.
https://iradellamonica.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pippin.smith.33/
Ira Della Monica
Fuck Trump
acrylic
22 x14
$900
See it at First Studio Gallery
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Ira Della Monica
Fuck Trump
acrylic
22 x14
$900
Animals have always been my voice for the emotions I struggle to express—the hidden thoughts, buried feelings, and unspoken opinions I often keep to myself. Through them, I communicate what I don’t always feel safe or ready to say out loud. At the core of my work is a longing for peace, kindness, and acceptance.In both my art and my life, animals offer a kind of quiet healing. They help me process fear, anger, and resentment, becoming both subject and companion in my creative journey. Most of the animals I paint are ones I’ve spent significant time with—each carrying a story, a memory, or a lesson that continues to shape me.
I was born and raised in Southern California, graduated from Sonoma State University with an art degree and received a graphic arts certificate from UCLA. My deep connection with animals stemmed from childhood pets and 25 years of competitive horseback riding and witnessing the benefits of therapeutic riding in people with special needs. Animals are a repetitive theme in my work. I moved to Mesa, Arizona in 2017 to pursue an occupational therapy master’s degree. Through a series of life altering events during Covid 2020 I rekindled my spiritually with painting, nature and the animals around me.
https://iradellamonica.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pippin.smith.33/
Jennifer R. Myhre
Who Is Watching the Watchers?
Collage
10 by 14 inches
$500
Virtual Show Only
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Jennifer R. Myhre
Who Is Watching the Watchers?
Collage
10 by 14 inches
$500
Who’s Watching the Watchers
I am a northern Arizona collage artist and printmaker who co-facilitated Make Art Make Justice workshops for non-artists for Showing Up for Racial Justice in CA from 2017-2024. A former sociologist and organizer, I believe that art is an engine for the courage, dreaming and world-building that builds people power and strengthens democracy. In addition to nature-inspired prints and collages, I make political art. Like every creature, I contain multitudes. And so does collage. Collage allows me to explore how I am both complicit in and actively resisting the human systems that produce large scale suffering. Through layering and juxtaposition, covering and revealing, collage allows visualization of how I wrestle with my own denial and accountability in these systems. This work was made during the 2025 Politics in Collage residency by the Kolaj Institute, in which we were asked to produce collages in conversation with Martin Mycielski’s Authoritarian Regime Survival Guide. This collage uses images from U.S. Military Intelligence files from the late 1910s and early 1920s, found in the National Archives. Military Intelligence was surveilling progressives from the labor movement, civil rights movement and women’s movements in a period parallel to our own in which capitalist fascism and xenophobia was on the rise in the U.S. The collage also points to the toxic use of nostalgia by authoritarian elites.
https://www.moreartlessfear.com/
@moreartlessfear