Galleries

Art collectors and appreciators can go to museums all over the globe to get a proper grounding in the artists and pieces considered the most classic, timeless and valuable, but using those skills to find the classics of the future means frequenting contemporary and modern art galleries.

This search will lead art aficionados of any ken to find out who is doing the most compelling and groundbreaking work.

While most galleries highlight images of their artists’ products online, nothing compares to viewing the work in person.

Some of the best places to visit in Arizona and beyond include:

Gallery of Modern Masters: Sedona — This gallery in the Hillside Sedona complex remains true to its beginnings, specializing in 20th century icons including Chagall, Dali and Miro, but has since expanded into contemporary pieces by artists from the Southwest and across the world. Its representation of legendary glass sculptor Christopher Ries has led it to become one of the most selective glass galleries in the Southwest, including Murano glass. It also offers a broad range of paintings, static and kinetic sculpture, ceramics, mixed media and jewelry. www.galleryofmodernmasters.com

Gebert Contemporary Art Gallery: Scottsdale and Santa Fe

— At the heart of the arts districts of both of these art destinations, Gebert specializes in abstract paintings and sculptures from an international base of artists, including both midcareer and emerging creatives.

Recent exhibitions in Scottsdale have featured the works of Corinne Geertsen, Benoit Ramirez Richter and Trudy Wiesenberger. www.gebertartaz.com

While you’re in Scottsdale, you really should make a stop at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art a couple blocks away! www.smoca.org

Pace Gallery: Los Angeles, New York, London, Hong Kong, Geneva, Seoul, East Hampton and Palm Beach — The global presence of this gallery founded in Boston in 1960 testifies to its success at its core mission of being an artist-first space that mounts seminal exhibitions. Its early support of the abstract expressionist and light and space movements set the tone, and it’s remained at the vanguard with its exploration of the intersection between technology and art, through interdisciplinary projects and Pace Verso and its NFT (nonfungible tokens) platform. www.pacegallery.com/galleries

Hauser & Wirth: Zürich, Gstaad, Los Angeles, New York City, Southampton, Hong Kong, London — The iconic Swiss gallery was created to be a celebratory and exuberant gathering space for artists, performers and their fans to gather and learn through hands-on programs. Its many locations mean there’s always an exhibition somewhere to dazzle and inspire every buyer and aficionado. H&W is renowned for transforming historic buildings to showcase cutting-edge art. www.hauserwirth.com

Gagosian Gallery: Los Angeles, New York, Rome, Athens, Hong Kong and Basel — Founded by Larry Gagosian to deliver fine contemporary art to everybody, the gallery has expanded to 16 global exhibition spaces, some designed by renowned architects including Richard Meyer and Caruso St. John. Its marquee of contemporary artists include Richard Serra, Jia Aili and Adriana Varejão.