Mission Statement
Phoenix Art Garage exists to provide artists with an affordable, welcoming space to create, learn, and connect—fostering a supportive community where artistic practice, experimentation, and shared growth are valued as much as finished work.
Phoenix Art Garage is a community-centered art space in downtown Phoenix dedicated to supporting artists at every stage of their creative journey. Founded with the belief that artists thrive best in shared, welcoming environments, Phoenix Art Garage offers affordable studio space, opportunities for exhibition and education, and a collaborative atmosphere rooted in mutual respect and creative growth.
Our 1,500 square foot space is thoughtfully designed to balance private artistic practice with shared community engagement. The space includes seven open-air creative suites, two deep-work sanctuary studios, and a 600 square foot flexible area that functions as a gallery, classroom, and workshop space. Abundant natural light fills the studios and common areas, creating an inspiring environment to work, learn, and connect.
Phoenix Art Garage is home to a diverse group of resident artists, including professional full-time artists, emerging artists, college students, and dedicated hobbyists. We welcome artists of all backgrounds and disciplines whose practices align with a shared studio environment. While we do not offer specialized equipment such as kilns or advanced ventilation systems, the space is well-suited for a wide range of visual art practices and includes air conditioning, shared utilities, and essential amenities.
At the heart of Phoenix Art Garage is community. Resident artists are encouraged to shape the culture of the space together—deciding when and how to collaborate on First Friday events, open studio hours, peer review sessions, exhibitions, workshops, and pop-up markets. Artists may use the flexible space for exhibitions or educational programming at no additional cost, provided events are scheduled on the shared calendar and the space is respectfully maintained for communal use.
In addition to artist-led programming, Phoenix Art Garage hosts a weekly life drawing class that brings together artists from both inside and outside the studio community. These regular gatherings help foster connection, skill-building, and creative exchange.
Phoenix Art Garage is located at 3201 N. 16th Street, Phoenix, Arizona—two miles from Roosevelt Row—and offers covered parking and ADA accessibility. Resident artists enjoy 24/7 access to the building, with electricity, water, and Wi-Fi included in studio rent.
Founder’s Perspective
Phoenix Art Garage grew out of my own journey back to art. Before opening the space, I spent many years as a public school teacher, always carrying a quiet desire to dedicate more of my life to creative work. In 2018, I was fortunate to take a sabbatical and spend a year in San Francisco, where I immersed myself in art classes at a community college. That year reaffirmed how deeply I loved learning, making, and being surrounded by other artists, and it made clear that art needed to be a central part of my life.
When I returned to Phoenix in 2019, the pandemic shifted my work into a virtual format and required me to rent an office space. Outside of work hours, that office quickly became my art studio. Having a dedicated place to make art—separate from home—was transformative. I was still very much a beginning artist, experimenting with many forms, but painting, printmaking, and collage began to emerge as my favorite ways to work.
What I missed most, however, was community. As a student, I thrived on shared space, encouragement, and creative exchange. When a larger space became available, I moved my studio and began inviting other artists to share it with me. Phoenix Art Garage was born from that desire—to create a place where artists could work independently while still feeling supported and connected.
Today, Phoenix Art Garage reflects my dual identity as both artist and teacher. The flexible space allows me to continue teaching—now through art classes for children and adults—while also making room for resident artists to exhibit, experiment, and collaborate. My hope has always been to create a space that feels generous, flexible, and human: a place where artists of all levels are welcome, creativity is nurtured, and community grows naturally through shared time and trust.
