1. What Was Whispered, handmade linocut by Tara Sharpe $75.; 2. various prints by Randy Slack starting at $95.; 3. Skin Deep, print by Eric Cox, $50.; 4.The Hunt from the Kachina of Atonement series, Marilyn Szabo $150.; 5. porcelain rings by Patricia Sannit starting at $35.
You don’t have to be a high-falutin’ fat cat to give (or collect!) evocative, original artwork. These unique offerings by five of Arizona’s notable fine artists go for around $100 or less.
The influences of post-impressionism, Art Nouveau and expressionism are evident in the powerful feminine figures that grace the work of Tara Sharpe. The artist’s distinct style takes form in a range of mediums including acrylic and oil, watercolor, linocut and small-scale sculpture, selling from $100 for smaller scale works all the way up to $6,000 for larger pieces. View and purchase her work at tarasharpe.com or on Instagram.
Randy Slack‘s nostalgic, large-scale mural enamel and acrylic paintings have dotted the Valley in museums, public spaces and private collections for over 20 years. “I tend to lean toward the bright-colored pop culture of my childhood mixed with the underlining duality of this crazy beautiful world I’m grateful to be floating around on,” says the Arizona native. Deeply personal in his work, he considers New American City, a depiction of his grandparents’ 1960’s living room – a room he wasn’t allowed to play in as a child – his most important piece. Slack is candid about his long-term sobriety. His grandparents both died sober and their story still inspires him today. Slack’s work generally ranges from $1,500 to $25,000, depending on size. Inquire on big or small pieces at slackrandy@yahoo.com or Practical Art.
Evolving in styles and mediums for over two decades, Eric Cox has created works from large scale public and private murals to political paintings (you might recall his tribute to John McCain that graced the cover of PHOENIX magazine in October 2018) to drawings on disposable bar napkins. Excited by experimentation and perhaps sparked by a dash of controversy, he has incorporated unique tools and techniques such as using a blow torch to move wet paint. He has also live-streamed himself on Facebook burning his own work. Prints and originals range from $50 to $5,000 and are available through artsycoxy.wordpress.com, on Instagram at or at the museum shop at Tucson Museum of Art.
If you’ve been in Phoenix for any amount of time, you have likely become acquainted with the striking, often historically charged photography work of Marilyn Szabo. Showcased internationally with notable collectors including the Netflix vice president of original content, Channing Dungey, Szabo strives to evoke emotion and sensualism that appeals to all. Generally ranging from $500 to $5,000, you can pick up one of her 8″x10″ prints for around $150. Her work is available through Royse Contemporary.
Largely inspired by archeology, the “cyclical nature of history” and the accomplishments and vulnerabilities of the human story, Patricia Sannit gravitates toward reclaimed and found clay for her larger sculptures, jewelry and smaller pieces. With organic conception at heart, Sannit regards Citadel, an installation resulting from meaningful layers that herald “human history lost to time,” her most significant work. The piece is comprised of 500 handmade and carved blocks and a group of collaborators who represented “ the many people and centuries of work that went into the construction of the UNESCO site, the Great Citadel in Irbil.” Sannit’s collectors and exhibitions span across the country from the Crocker Museum of Art in California to Everson Museum of Art in New York. Sannit’s porcelain jewelry start at $35 and her large-scale, installation-based sculpture is considerably more. Sannit welcomes visitors to her studio – just call ahead at 602-510-6971. Her larger works can be obtained through John Reyes Contemporary Art artsy.net/reyes-contemporary-art and smaller pieces like necklaces, rings and earrings through Practical Art.
