2021 Virtual Exhibitions

In January 2021, phICA launched its Virtual Exhibitions series which continues our spotlighting on artists from Maricopa Country/Phoenix Metropolitan Area, Arizona, the USA, and beyond. There are 18 exhibits planned during 2021 and 2022. We discovered that blending national and international artists into the mix with local artists has been valuable for Phoenix artists and our audience. In alignment with our educational mission, our goal is to cultivate a deeper personal and social awareness of the richness of our community and worlds outside of metro Phoenix’s borders as we did with our Onloaded series of solo exhibitions in repurposed shipping containers and other exhibits between 2011 and 2018.

The primary purpose of Virtual Exhibitions is to stimulate inquiry and reflection about what is most meaningful to us as interconnected human beings which has taken on whole new dimensions in our world since early 2020. We strive to help artists advance their careers through visibility, financial support, and other resources; to encourage cultural exchange between artists; enhance the public’s understanding and appreciation of contemporary art and its cultural and historical significance; and to enrich our community through the contributions of art for more awareness of cultural diversity.

With the use of technology and continuing our collaborations with artists and curators, we now offer virtual portals for people to learn about, interact, understand, and enjoy work by artists who are using their visual and speaking voices for expression, calls to action, and sharing insightful personal stories about why they work as art creators. We will be exhibiting the work of artists from the Phoenix and Northern Arizona areas and beyond, including those whose origins include Afghanistan, Brazil, Cuba, El Salvador, Guinea, Iran, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Yemen.

Another important note… we are continuing our Emerging Curator Initiative along with the Virtual Exhibitions project. We already have an impressive track record of 13 emerging curator projects which allow young people interested in being art curators to gain first-hand experience with curating an exhibition from beginning to end.

The phICA Virtual Exhibitions Initiative is made possible through the generous support of Arizona Commission on the Arts/National Endowment for the Arts, City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, Laurie and Tom Carmody/The Carmody Foundation, Brendan Mahoney and Gordon Street, Bobby Walker and Michael L. Zirulnik, Erin Hubbard, and Ted Decker Catalyst Fund.

All exhibitions are curated for phICA by Ted G. Decker except where noted.