Upcoming Exhibits

Sacred Southwest: Hispanic Devotional Art

from the Collection of Dan Fout and Linda Scott

In the Kemper and Ethel Marley Gallery
Opening Reception: January 23, 2026 at 5:30 PM, Members FREE, Guests $20

Dates: January 24 – April 5, 2026

For more than three centuries, the American Southwest—spanning California, Arizona, New Mexico, and southern Colorado—stood as the remote frontier of the Spanish Empire. Life was harsh, and faith offered strength amid isolation, drought, and danger. The Catholic Church established missions in major towns, but in small villages, priests and sacred images were scarce. Santeros—“painters of saints”—filled this need, creating heartfelt retablos (painted saints) and bultos (carved figures) as objects of devotion and protection. Blending Spanish, Mexican, and regional traditions, these works expressed deep spirituality and community resilience. When mass-produced religious items arrived by rail in the late 1800s, many handmade pieces were lost.

The Phippen Museum is thrilled to share this exhibit of work from a single collection that honors these rare surviving objects, preserving their beauty and the enduring faith of the people who created and cherished them on the far edge of the Spanish frontier.