Clustered largely in Old Town, Scottsdale’s Native American art scene is one of town’s true must-see attractions. In galleries and museum halls, jewelry, pottery, textiles and contemporary canvases tell incredible stories of the region’s Indigenous people. Here are a collection of excellent spots to experience ancient and modern Indigenous art up close.
Native Art Market
Native Art Market is Old Town Scottsdale’s first and only Indigenous-owned and -operated store, offering a curated indoor Native American art gallery that’s open daily. The shop is alive with color and lights, giving it a laid back, casual vibe. Expect standout jewelry, pottery and fine art, all purchased directly from Native artists. Next door is Native Art Market’s sister establishment, The Frybread Lounge, which dishes up healthy, farm-to-table ancestral food by Indigenous food producers and chefs.
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
Polished stone-and-wood galleries hum with natural light, showcasing pieces by Indigenous artists from across the Southwest. Collections display beaded regalia, glistening pottery and historic photographs that feel like portals to Arizona’s expansive past. Labels are helpful and detailed, helping the stories behind the pieces spring to life. Don’t miss the sculpture courtyard, which has featured work by Diné and Apache artists.
Faust Gallery
This sleek Old Town showcase offers an intimate setting for a wide spectrum of Indigenous art, ranging from traditional to avant garde. It’s a snug space that you can see in a quick stop. Wall pieces lean contemporary, embracing the experimental in fun ways that shatter expectations of what Native art can be. Staff is helpful, patiently explaining artist backstories and detailing the nuances of technique. Prices run from modest to significant. Note: closed during summer.
RC Gorman Navajo Gallery
Once called the “Picasso of American Indian artists,” RC Gorman had a unique painting style highlighted by warm reds, green hues, twilight purples and soft, dreamy landscapes. Gorman created on far more than canvas, painting figurines, casting bronze sculptures and producing lithographics. The long gallery room bursts with shapes and color. Engage the helpful staff to learn more about Gorman’s techniques, his life and how Navajo culture threads his countless works.
John C. Hill Antique Indian Art Gallery
This homey Old Town gallery displays Hopi and Zuni Kachinas, Navajo weavings, jewelry baskets, folk art and more – all gathered by founder John C. Hill over four decades. A cardinal pendant with inset gemstones. Decades-old figurines. Navajo textiles that ripple with earthtone geometric patterns, made from handspun wool and natural dyes, some dating back nearly 100 years. Squash blossom necklaces and polished bracelets studded with turquoise. Basketry and pottery that show honest wear. All are unique treasures waiting to be discovered.
Territorial Indian Arts & Antiques
At this shop with true Western trading post vibes, brightly painted Hopi katsinam carvings eye you, Navajo rugs beckon, and the scent of cedar fills the air. Wood shelves contain beadwork and moccasins. There’s a host of textiles, including saddle blankets and elaborate pictorials that illustrate scenes. Jewelry options are many, including concho belts, buckles, rings, pins and much more. Elaborate turquoise pieces gleam behind the display case. The shop makes a great place for a big or small souvenir.
Bischoff’s Gallery Shades of the West
With beautiful gardens, metal sculptures and Southwestern greenery outside and high ceilings and great canvases within, Bischoff’s feels like an art gallery from a bygone time or fantastical world. Jewelry cases run long, pottery shelves climb, and headdresses festooned with feathers dangle. You can compare a contemporary inlay pendant with a classic sand cast bracelet in one sweep. Rugs and other textiles have their own sections, giving browsers ample space. This is a fun must-see on the art circuit.
Cultural Center at Talking Stick Resort
Free and surprisingly robust, Talking Stick’s Cultural Center offers a large collection in moody viewing spaces that give each piece weight and gravitas. What sets the Cultural Center apart more than anything is the perspective of those who have organized the display. Works have been carefully curated by members of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, who own the resort. Baskets, pottery and archival photos highlight the incredible Salt River Pima-Maricopa story with clear, well-written panels. Though they’re encased in glass, you feel the desert in the materials.
Heard Museum
Though technically just beyond the Scottsdale border in Phoenix, we'd be remiss not to include the Heard Museum as a source for outstanding Native American art. This world-famous museum features art from many different Native American tribes in both permanent and rotating exhibitions. The Heard Museum Shop is a treasure trove of authentic jewelry, Hopi katsinas, Navajo rugs, traditional pottery and more, just waiting to be explored (and possibly added to your colleciton). Every March, you can meet and talk with hundreds of Native American artists who show and sell their work at the Heard Museum Guild Indian Fair & Market.
