Shop the Arts in Ajo: Galleries, Markets & Desert Creativity
- Sonoran Desert Inn
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
There is something about the Sonoran Desert that inspires creativity. Maybe it is the quiet, the wide open skies, the slower pace, or the feeling of space to think and create. In Ajo, that creative spirit can be felt throughout the community — from galleries and artisan shops to colorful markets, handmade goods, and the artists who call this desert town home.
Whether you are searching for a meaningful souvenir, one-of-a-kind artwork, or simply want to experience the creative energy of Ajo, these local spaces offer a wonderful way to connect with the community while supporting artists, makers, and entrepreneurs.
Start at Coyote Commons at the Sonoran Desert Inn
Located inside the Sonoran Desert Inn & Conference Center, Coyote Commons serves as both the front desk for the Inn and a thoughtfully curated artisan gift shop featuring work from local and regional artists.
Visitors will find handmade jewelry, ceramics, clothing, home décor, books, artwork, gifts, and desert-inspired creations that reflect the culture and creativity of the Sonoran Desert. The shop also features an inspiring collection of books focused on the desert Southwest — including desert cooking, Indigenous foodways, ecology, art, architecture, history, and life in the Sonoran Desert.
Browsing the shelves at Coyote Commons feels a bit like discovering a desert library, gallery, and mercantile all at once, with many selections encouraging visitors to connect more deeply with the landscape, culture, and creativity of the region.
Because the Sonoran Desert Inn is part of the larger Curley School Creative Campus, it also serves as a gateway into one of Ajo’s most creative spaces.
Explore the Curley School Art Gallery
Just steps away from the Inn on the Curley School Creative Campus, visitors can experience the ongoing Curley School Gallery Art Exhibit celebrating the incredible artistic talent connected to the Curley community.
The exhibit highlights artists and artisans who have lived, worked, taught, created, and inspired others through the Curley School Apartments and Creative Campus over the years. Some artists are longtime Ajo residents actively vending around town today, while others are former residents who have continued their creative journeys elsewhere. The exhibit also honors beloved members of the Curley family who are no longer with us but whose artistic contributions remain part of the community’s story.
The gallery offers visitors a chance to experience the depth and diversity of creativity that thrives within the Curley campus — from painting and photography to mixed media, sculpture, and handcrafted work.
Curley School Gallery Art Exhibit
Ongoing Exhibit
Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays: 10am – 2pm
Second Saturdays: 10am – 2pm
As the Curley School Creative Campus moves toward its 20-year anniversary, the exhibit serves as both a celebration of artistic expression and a reflection of the creative community that continues to shape Ajo today.
Visit Art Under the Arches in Ajo’s Historic Plaza
In the heart of town, Art Under the Arches offers another wonderful place to shop locally and discover the work of Ajo artists.
Located beneath the iconic arches of the Historic Ajo Plaza, this nonprofit cooperative gallery and gift shop features artwork in many different mediums created by local artists. Visitors will find paintings, ceramics, jewelry, prints, handmade gifts, desert souvenirs, and more — all connected to the culture, landscape, and creativity of the region.
The gallery reflects the collaborative spirit that makes Ajo’s arts community so unique and provides visitors with a chance to directly support working artists and local creative entrepreneurship.
You can learn more at Art Under the Arches.
Discover Indigenous Makers at Three Nations Market
Just beyond the Historic Ajo Plaza, a short walk around the corner from the arches and palm-lined square, visitors will discover Three Nations Market, an Indigenous-owned market located in Ajo on the ancestral lands of the Hia-Ced O’odham people.
The market brings together more than 50 vendors, makers, and entrepreneurs, creating a space that feels part community market, part vintage treasure hunt, and part artisan gathering place. Visitors will find handmade goods, art, jewelry, clothing, antiques, thrifted finds, desert-inspired creations, and all kinds of artful surprises throughout the space.
Three Nations Market has become an important community-centered hub that celebrates Indigenous makers, creativity, entrepreneurship, and cultural connection in Ajo.
You can follow upcoming events and vendor information at Three Nations Market Facebook Page.
Experience Ajo Through Its Artists
The best way to experience Ajo’s creative spirit is to spend a little time here. Slow down, explore the galleries and markets, meet local artists, and discover the inspiration that draws so many creative people to this corner of the Sonoran Desert.
Book your stay at the Sonoran Desert Inn & Conference Center and make the Curley School Creative Campus your home base for exploring Ajo’s art, culture, and desert beauty.
