Bentley Projects

Here lies the coolest spot in town when it comes to art and architecture. (It’s also the sister location to Bentley Gallery, which is part of Scottsdale’s hit-or-miss art scene.) The owners of this 22,000-square-foot warehouse and former 1918 laundry (housed way off the beaten path, south of the Diamondbacks’ ballpark) recently restored it to its exposed-brick glory. (In Phoenix, tearing down historic properties is practically a cottage industry.) There’s nothing old-timey about the art, however; they represent international stars including Jim Dine and Richard Serra. But the really exciting stuff comes from locals like Hector Ruiz, who has become a leader in the Latino art world with his paintings, wood carvings, and papier-mâché that comment on contemporary culture. (He once crafted a 21-foot blonde in strappy heels and suspended her from the ceiling.) And take note of another artist, Mark Newport (an Arizona State University professor); he knits superhero costumes and sometimes dons them in the name of performance art.

Tip: Ask if any work by famed glass artist Dale Chihuly is on display; sometimes it’s tucked in a hard-to-find corner.