About Us
Welcome to the Tucson Desert Art Museum, a nonprofit institution dedicated to showcasing the art and artifacts of the Desert Southwest.
Our Mission
Since opening our doors on November 1, 2013, our mission has been to educate our guests about the rich history, diverse cultures, and vibrant art of the region.
At the heart of our collection lies one of the Southwest’s premier collections of Navajo and Hopi pre-1940s textiles, showcasing chiefs' blankets, Navajo saddle blankets, optical art textiles, and Yei weavings. We also house a diverse range of historical artifacts, and classic as well as contemporary Southwestern paintings, including works by renowned artists such as Maynard Dixon, Thomas Moran, Albert Bierstadt, Gerald Cassidy, Ed Mell, Ray Roberts, Peter Nisbet, and Howard Post. ​
Our museum features rotating special exhibitions that change annually, ensuring that each visit offers a new and engaging experience. From exhibits on Navajo Sand Painting to early armaments of the Southwest and artifacts from the Mesoamerican period, our collection offers a unique and eclectic array of Southwestern art and artifacts.
Conveniently located on Tucson's Eastside, our museum offers visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in history through our beautiful art while enjoying the magnificent panoramic views of the Catalina and Rincon mountains. Our building spans 25,000 square feet.
James E. Conley Jr.
About the Founder
(1943-2020)
James E. Conley Jr., along with the Museum’s first executive director, Rhonda R. Smith, founded the Tucson Desert Art Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2013. The Museum showcases Jim’s premier collection of Southwestern art, artifacts and textiles. Jim always encouraged the Tucson Desert Art Museum to actively pursue special exhibitions that address or expose bias in our history, so that we may learn from these difficult periods and never repeat them. His order to, “never whitewash history” but to tell the truth about our past will continue to be part of the Museum’s mission. His extensive art and artifacts (collected over the course of his entire lifetime) will continue to be an important source of public and scholarly learning for centuries to come.