Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
3.5
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
11:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
The Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art champions creativity, innovation and the vitality of the visual arts. We seek both to build and to educate audiences for modern and contemporary art, as well as to provide opportunities for the artistic community--locally, nationally and internationally. SMoCA provides a memorable experience of art, architecture and design by exploring new curatorial approaches and by highlighting cultural context. We interpret, exhibit, collect and preserve works in these media. SMoCA's gift store is stocked with books on contemporary art, photography, architecture, design, pop culture and much more. Plenty of other signature merchandise abounds--whether you're looking for smart, modern home decor pieces, clever design accoutrements for your office space (or any space!), richly patterned stationery sets & postcards or one-of-a-kind jewelry, handbags and scarves--these pieces let you wear your artistic sensibilities on your sleeve.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Neighbourhood: South Scottsdale
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3.5
174 reviews
Excellent
55
Very good
55
Average
32
Poor
13
Terrible
19
Stacy M
1 contribution
Sept 2023 • Family
If only we knew before planning our day around this visit. I made a point to review the website and vet what I wanted to see while there. What a disappointment! We came in to find two young people at the counter with nothing to do but chitchat with each other. They said the museum was under construction so only one exhibit was open. We were urged to pay what we wanted for admission and felt compelled to pay something. They could have given a better warning about what was in store. After paying $5/ea to see 3 completely boring large walls of light, we walked back out and told the counter attendants it wasn't worth it at all. They just gaped at us. Having nothing else to see, we left. One would think that the museum would have noted they were under construction and exhibits were not available to view during our trip. It would have saved us a huge chunk of our last day in Scottsdale.
Written 14 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MarthaIllinois
Alta, IL158 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Good news: the adult rate is $10, AAA members are $7 and seniors are $5.
The NOT so good news: very small museum of four-5 rooms. Today, two rooms had recycled items from hair, dust from machines, etc. They did have one creative chair and some high heels. The other exhibit had only a large broom and water. There were some drawings of female genitalia. The written descriptions of art were so “out of it”. We usually love museums but not this one. Allow 10 minutes max.
The NOT so good news: very small museum of four-5 rooms. Today, two rooms had recycled items from hair, dust from machines, etc. They did have one creative chair and some high heels. The other exhibit had only a large broom and water. There were some drawings of female genitalia. The written descriptions of art were so “out of it”. We usually love museums but not this one. Allow 10 minutes max.
Written 1 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GastroEclectico
Phoenix, AZ1,072 contributions
July 2024 • Couples
Summer is our museum expeditions time of the year. In Arizona, especially the Valley of the Sun, el sol gets pretty darn hot so one scampers towards activities that are mostly indoors and undercover, so Museums, Art Exhibits, Galleries and other indoor events are the natural solution to our annual dilemma. This week we decided on a museum, especially one we had not had the opportunity of previously visiting, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (fondly known as SMoCa). I was fascinated with its mission to show design, modern works of art as well as architecture within the spacious confines of its four galleries. Although a relatively small museum is set up and layout is nicely created. We were glad we could experience the art and styles of Carolina Anibar-Fernadez: Oleaje and Dorothy Fratt’s: Color Mirage exciting and poignant exhibits during our visit. The Roelof Knol: the space in between and his paper shape optical and visual art was fanciful and intriguing. Before we left, we stopped off at their shop. Their gift shop, although not huge, has some very interesting and unique items to offer, we obviously purchased an artistic yet functional and decorative art set. SMoCa is not only a great place to come in and cool off, but it will enlighten the senses, open your curiosity and inspire you to seek more, more art, and spur the imagination. Kudos to the staff and volunteers.
Written 26 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe G
Las Cruces, NM208 contributions
Apr 2023 • Friends
Very nice museum with a surprisingly large collection of 20th and 21st century art work. We visited during a free admission day, but I donated $20 anyway. Small enough that one does not need to budget half the day to visit.
Written 8 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MCMGirl
53 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
My family and I did not visit this museum. We were not allowed to bring a bottle into the museum for our 1 year old daughter. It is unsafe to go anywhere without liquid being available to her at all times (especially after being in 95 degree weather outside). We therefore asked for a refund and then left. I do not recommend visiting this museum.
Written 25 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
An0nyMs
Tucson, AZ1,563 contributions
Nov 2020 • Solo
The exhibitions are always cutting-edge, so you may not want to make a long trip here unless you really like current art. One thing not to miss -- in the cooler months of the year, anyway -- is the outdoor Turrell Courtyard. It curves around the outside of the building. There's a mural, sculpture, and a circular skyspace room with a view of the sky.
Written 21 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PKPOWELL
Powell, OH79 contributions
May 2019
This museuam is in a cool building and had only one gallery open. They may just have one collection at a time.. May want to contact a head to see what is open or just pop in for less than an hour.
Written 23 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DreamSeeker94
Mesa, AZ351 contributions
July 2016 • Couples
Sorry. I hate to badmouth any museum dedicated to the arts but this place is a joke. First, there is very little art. What little collection they have is, for the most part, poor. Clearly, the exhibits change with time and maybe they'll have a better showing in the future but for now they have only one exhibit (Sama Alshaibi's "Silsila") that I found moderately thought provoking. The remaining exhibits were just silly. Don't waste your time or your good mood.
Written 24 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Janice F
Boston, MA87 contributions
Feb 2020
We had not heard of this museum before but were so glad it was recommended to us. A beautiful building with interesting outdoor lighting installation.and great exhibits inside. Small but worth tbhe time to visit.
Written 9 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jane S
Toronto, Canada29 contributions
Oct 2019
Drove 45 mins to visit this gallery and it was closed for 2 weeks. Zero indication of this on their website or social media and the tourist centre down the street didn’t even know. Very poor communication. The person at the gift shop wasn’t apologetic in the least. Very disappointing.
Written 17 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there one day a month that is free admission?
Written 15 December 2016
Every Thursday 12 to 9, Friday and Sat 5 to 9
Written 27 September 2018
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