A Visit to The Gallery in the Sun

A rusty metal gate adorned with kitschy tin can flowers welcomes visitors to the beautiful Gallery in the Sun.

Since the gallery opened in 1965, thousands of people have come to see the unique works of Ted “Ettore” DeGrazia.

Inspired mostly by native culture and the elements of the Southwest, DeGrazia’s early works were published in Arizona Highways magazine before he partnered with muralists Diego Rivera and Jose Clemente Orozco, who sponsored DeGrazia’s first solo exhibition in 1942.

His most recognized art pieces are those of “Los Ninos,” the wide-eyed Native American children printed on greeting cards in the 1950s and 60s.

The Gallery in the Sun houses six permanent collections of paintings that mark historical events and native cultures of the Southwest. Some 15,000 other DeGrazia paintings are in rotating exhibitions at the gallery, watercolors and oil paintings, sketches, lithographs, ceramics and sculptures.

Also housed at the Gallery in the Sun are some of the works by DeGrazia’s wife, Marion S. DeGrazia. The gallery began displaying her works last year as part of the “M Collection,” and still has some hanging in the main gallery.

Presently, the Gallery is showing a collection of Ted DeGrazia’s works in conjunction with Lent called “The Way of the Cross.” From February 6 until May 11, visitors can view the 15 original paintings that depict Christ’s suffering and crucifixion.

The crucifixion paintings were created in 1964 when a local reverend asked DeGrazia to paint Stations of the Cross for the Newman Catholic Student Center near the University of Arizona. De Grazia replaced the originals in the chapel with reproductions for insurance and environmental purposes.

The Gallery in the Sun will feature a new exhibition starting March 28. The “Todos Mexicanos” exhibit will feature over 50 black and white sketches of the daily life DeGrazia witnessed on his many trips to Mexico. These drawings feature recurring characters in DeGrazia’s works such as merchants, mariachis, farmers and children.

The opening reception will be from 6pm to 8pm in the main gallery and the exhibit will last through September 8.