Essential Tips for Designing a Home to Showcase Fine Art of the American Southwest

The Sonoran Desert has captivated generations of artists with its colors, experiences, and landscapes. It’s no wonder that people who are drawn to the beauty of the Scottdale area for their luxury custom homes also love the artwork inspired by it.

When designing your home to include a collection of fine art, especially with indigenous representations, you need to understand the nuances of Native American and tribal art as well as how best to tell the story throughout your Scottsdale property. 

Here are a few ideas for celebrating the fine art of the American Southwest in your luxury custom home.

The Nuances of Fine Art of the American Southwest 

Purchasing, displaying, and enjoying Southwest fine art is one way to support local artists and honor the history that spans from the Grand Canyon to the vast open deserts in the south. But you need to do your research and work with knowledgeable designers and art dealers to make sure you are respectful to the artist and their culture.

Make an effort to understand the traditions the artwork represents and the roles that the artifacts—as well as the subjects—play, and continue to play, within the indigenous Southwest cultures. Partnering with distinguished art dealers who maintain strong ethical standards ensures your collection aligns with best practices for cultural respect and authenticity. 

Get as much information about the object as possible. Whether acquiring historical pieces or commissioning contemporary works, understand what the iconography represents and what materials were used to create the piece. A detailed provenance elevates the piece's intrinsic value and demonstrates a commitment to responsible collecting.

The best art galleries in Scottsdale and throughout Arizona serve as invaluable resources and offer deep connections to both established Southwest masters and emerging talents. Their curators possess intimate knowledge of the artistic landscape and can guide you through the thoughtful expansion of your collection to both complement your space and honor the rich artistic traditions they represent.

Displaying Your Indoor Art Collection

Display your fine art collection with the same care you invest in building it. Bring your design team in early to help you define the story you want to tell with your display. How do you want to enjoy it, and have guests enjoy it? The arrangement of each piece influences the overall understanding of the collection as a whole.

In an Organic Pueblo-style home, for example, some pieces may be enhanced by the flowing, organic shapes throughout each room. With floor-to-ceiling windows, you may create a cohesive sightline with your pieces that carry through to the landscape that surrounds your home.

Create flexible gallery spaces that allow for art rotation—and collection expansion. This could include alcoves in your great room, themed bedrooms, or a rotating display in your entryway to welcome guests. The majority of your collection could be housed in a room designated for quiet contemplation, but moving a few pieces regularly freshens the space and may provide a new perspective on the artwork.

No matter where your Southwestern fine art resides in your home, lighting will be instrumental in bringing out the details in each piece. Where possible, incorporate a balance of indirect natural light and supplementary lighting to create a consistent experience. Avoid direct sunlight because ultraviolet rays can damage your artwork. You can mitigate fading and deterioration by using UV-proof glass in your frames and on your windows. Use track lighting, recessed lighting, or wall washes to illuminate each piece. Angle each fixture to at least 30 degrees from the piece to avoid glare.

You’ll also want to consider technology solutions to maintain climate control for your fine art and app-based security systems specifically for your treasured pieces. Work with your security consultant to identify the best system to keep your collection safe while also being visually unobtrusive. 

Displaying Your Outdoor Art Collection

Beautiful artwork shouldn’t be limited to indoor spaces. From intricate water sculptures to dramatic stand-alone statues, your patio and entry courtyard are great places to showcase your outdoor art collection. 

Layer in your outdoor art intentionally with your landscape design. Bring your architect and landscape designer in early—even if you are still deciding on which pieces to display—so they can help you create the optimal space to showcase your three-dimensional masterpieces. Work with local art dealers to commission a sculpture that works perfectly with the unique layout of your area. Consider creating transitional spaces that flow from inside to an outdoor sculpture garden, as beautifully demonstrated in the Chiricahua Pass residence.

Work with the artist or a professional installer to create a strong base for each outdoor piece. This helps with stability and theft deterrence. Make sure you have additional lighting and security cameras to focus on your outdoor art.

To help preserve the sculpture, work with the artist to make sure it can withstand Arizona’s direct sunlight and verify it can work near chlorinated water if you plan to put it close to your pool.

Spotlight: Saguaro Canyon

The Saguaro Canyon property melds iconic Southwest fine art with traditional Southwest-style architecture. The residents have an extensive collection of traditional native and indigenous art, including paintings and a bronze coyote statue commissioned by an artist from Celebration of Fine Art. 

The artwork flows naturally from interior galleries to their multiple outdoor living spaces, creating an immersive experience that celebrates the intrinsic connection between Southwestern art and the desert landscape. This harmonious placement transforms the home into a living gallery where art becomes an integral part of daily life, rather than merely a curated display.

Great Art Deserves Great Architecture

Most great architects understand fine art, so they recognize the demands for displaying a treasured collection. When your collection features Southwest fine art, you want a design team that knows the aesthetic inherent in these incredible pieces. Turn to the top Scottsdale architects to help you tell a breathtaking story with your fine art at the center. Tell us about your project today.