Where 300 Million Years
of Art Meets the Living Canvas.
Scottsdale felt commercial. Santa Fe felt cold. Sedona is where art is not displayed. It is lived.
Why Art Lovers Are Making the Move
You have been to the galleries in Scottsdale. You have done the Santa Fe art crawl. But something always felt off, like the art was performing for tourists instead of breathing on its own. Then someone told you about the other Sedona, the one with galleries lining red rock canyons and cliff dwellings with rock art older than the pyramids.
Sedona Art Scene at a Glance
- 80+ art galleries concentrated along Route 179 in Uptown and Hillside areas
- Tlaquepaque Arts Village with 19+ galleries and 45+ shops in a historic Mexican village setting
- 5,000-year-old Native American pictographs at Palatki and Honanki Heritage Sites
- First Friday gallery events year-round with wine, live music, and artist conversations
- Typical art-district buyer: 50 to 70, collectors, creatives, culture-seekers relocating from major metros
The Experiences
3 Reasons Art Lovers Move to Sedona
The Heart of Sedona's Art Scene
Tlaquepaque Arts and Shopping Village
Pronounced "T-la-keh-pah-keh," meaning "the best of everything," this is where Sedona's art story began in the 1970s as a live-work artist community.
- 19+ galleries and 45+ shops in a traditional Mexican village setting
- Cobblestone walkways, vine-covered stucco walls, and sycamore-shaded courtyards
- Notable stops: Kuivato Glass Gallery, Mountain Trails Galleries, Rowe Fine Art
- On-site dining at El Rincon and Rene Restaurant (Mexican and French fine dining)
- Artists originally lived upstairs and showed work downstairs
Visit on a weekday morning for the most intimate experience. Weekend afternoons bring larger crowds.
80+ Galleries in the Heart of Red Rock Country
Gallery Row Along Route 179
Along State Route 179, especially in the Uptown and Hillside areas, you will find one of the densest concentrations of high-end galleries in the American West.
- 80+ galleries featuring Southwest landscapes, Native American art, and contemporary sculpture
- Exposures International voted best gallery in Arizona
- First Friday events year-round with wine, live music, and artist conversations
- Village Gallery of Local Artists showcases 40+ local artists in one collective
- Hillside Sedona is a walkable cluster of galleries and boutiques
First Friday events run year-round. It is the best way to meet the artists and see new work before anyone else.
Art That Predates America by 5,000 Years
Native American Cultural Sites and Heritage
For something deeper than galleries, step back a thousand years to the ancient Sinagua cliff dwellings and rock art sites surrounding Sedona.
- Palatki Heritage Site: guided tours of cliff dwellings with pictographs dating back 5,000+ years
- Honanki Ruins: 60+ rooms, self-guided 0.6-mile trail, famous Kokopelli pictograph
- Small group tours of 14 people every 30 minutes with volunteer guides
- Connected to the Sinagua people, ancestors of the Hopi, who lived here until 1300 CE
- Palatki requires reservations at recreation.gov; Honanki is self-guided with Red Rock Pass
Bring water and sturdy shoes to both sites. Palatki requires advance reservations.
Your First Week as a Sedona Local
Saturday morning: Tlaquepaque's cobblestone courtyards. Coffee in hand. A glassblower shaping molten art while you watch.
Afternoon: A drive to Palatki. You stand where the Sinagua painted stories on canyon walls five thousand years ago.
Evening: First Friday on Gallery Row. Wine. Conversation with a sculptor who moved here from New York because "the light is different."
You understand. You have been watching that light change colors on the red rocks from your living room all week.
In Sedona, you do not visit culture. You move into it.
Thinking About the Move?
Talk to Tyler Vaughan
Tyler specializes in Sedona luxury properties near the art district, Tlaquepaque, and Uptown. He will match you with a home that fits your lifestyle.
Get the Full Guide
Request Your Sedona Art and Culture Guide
Gallery maps, event calendars, homes near the art district delivered to your inbox.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sedona Art Scene
Why are art lovers moving to Sedona?
Sedona offers 80+ fine art galleries along Gallery Row, the historic Tlaquepaque Arts Village where artists still live above their studios, and 5,000-year-old Native American rock art sites. The red rock landscape itself serves as a natural backdrop that inspires artists from around the world.
What is Tlaquepaque Arts Village in Sedona?
Tlaquepaque (pronounced T-la-keh-pah-keh, meaning "the best of everything") is a live-work artist community founded in the 1970s. It features 19+ galleries and 45+ shops in a traditional Mexican village setting with cobblestone walkways, vine-covered stucco walls, and sycamore-shaded courtyards.
How many art galleries are in Sedona?
Sedona has more than 80 art galleries concentrated primarily along Route 179 in the Uptown and Hillside areas. These include fine art, Native American art, contemporary sculpture, photography, blown glass, ceramics, and mixed media.
What are the best cultural sites near Sedona?
Key cultural sites include Palatki Heritage Site with 5,000-year-old pictographs and Sinagua cliff dwellings, Honanki Ruins with 60+ rooms and the Kokopelli pictograph, Tlaquepaque Arts Village, and Gallery Row with 80+ galleries.
How much do homes near Sedona art district cost?
Homes near Sedona's art district and Uptown area typically start around $650,000 and go well above $2 million for luxury properties. Contact Tyler Vaughan at (928) 405-7638 for current availability.