Phoenix Art Museum has some great works of art, and its modern and contemporary art section is particularly good. You will find coloful works by Mexican artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, as well as works by Pablo Picasso, Georgia O'Keeffe, Henri Rousseau (I love his work!), and Auguste Rodin. The highlight for me is the modern streamlined space called Ullman Center which is filled with art by Philip Curtis. I just love his art! He's an Arizona artist and his style is very modern and unique. The unusual details in his paintings are a repeated source of delight! Check it out!

Another highlight is the Thorne Miniature Rooms exhibit. I couldn't believe how wonderful it was, and I would have stared in at the rooms for much longer if there hadn't been people waiting to see! You walk from one tiny little glass box to another and each box is its own "room." Narcissa Niblack Thorne created these rooms using miniature furniture that she bought on her travels to England and the Far East shortly after the turn of the century. Many of the rooms are exact replicas of rooms found in real mansions in the United States and Europe, and others are designed to show a certain period in architectural and interior design. Every room is scaled so that one inch in the miniature room equals one foot in the real room. Thorne even wove period-style rugs to go in certain rooms. There are twenty of these miniature rooms at the Phoenix Art Museum.
If you're hungry, grab a sandwich at the Art Museum's cafe and, in the springtime, eat it on the nice patio under the palo verde trees. After visiting the museum, take a short walk around downtown Phoenix. The desert-colored skyscapers (shown) are a pretty sight.
Nearby, check out Historic Heritage Square with its original streets of early Phoenix and cute Victorian homes. The Arizona Science Center is located there and kids love it!

Directions

Phoenix Art Museum is located at 1625 N. Central Avenue, on the corner of McDowell Road & Central Avenue. The large parking lot is on the corner of N. Alvarado Rd and E. Coronado Rd, just across Coronado Rd from the Art Museum.
From Highway 10 Eastbound, take the 7th Street exit. At the exit, take the left fork so that you turn left onto 7th Street. Pass about three streets and then turn left on Coronado Rd. Park once you reach Alvarado Rd.
Admission is $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, $10 for students, and $6 for children aged 6-17. Children under 6 are free.
Open Wed 10-9, Thurs-Sat 10-5, and Sun 12-5.

Click on map for interactive view