Phoenix Art Museum and Phoenix College will co-host the 2026 Eric Fischl Series, featuring a conversation between artist Eric Fischl and contemporary artist Marilyn Minter. The event is scheduled for April 8, 2025, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the museum. Tickets are $5 for the public and free for museum members and Phoenix College students with valid ID.
“As we mark the program’s 21st anniversary, Phoenix Art Museum, in partnership with Phoenix College, is proud to spotlight this year’s featured artist, Marilyn Minter, in conversation with Eric Fischl,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “Minter has transformed the language of contemporary art through work that is fearless, visually electric and deeply attuned to how images shape power, desire and identity. We’re honored to welcome her for an evening that places her ideas at the center of the conversation and offer a rare opportunity for visitors to engage directly with an artist whose work continues to shape how we see and talk about images.”
The annual series draws students, artists, and community members to discuss art-related topics. This year’s guest artist is Marilyn Minter, known for her hyperrealistic works exploring themes such as beauty, power, and desire across painting, photography, and video. Her approach often merges glamour with realism while addressing cultural issues around femininity and consumerism.
The evening will open with an exhibition of artwork by Phoenix College students in Cummings Great Hall South. As part of the event, Eric Fischl will present Vanguard Awards to selected student artists recognized as “Best in Show.” Each recipient receives $2,500. Since its creation in 2005 by Fischl to recognize emerging talent at Phoenix College, the award has been given to 69 students.
A conversation between Fischl and Minter will follow in Whiteman Hall.
On April 7 at 6 p.m., there will be an exclusive screening of “PRETTY DIRTY: The Life and Times of Marilyn Minter,” directed by Jennifer Ash Rudick and Amanda Benchley. The documentary covers Minter’s life from her childhood through her career as an influential contemporary artist who addresses subjects like sex and aging in her work. A Q&A session with Minter moderated by producer Debi Wisch will follow at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for the public; museum members attend free.
Phoenix Art Museum operates as the largest art institution in the southwestern United States according to its official website. It maintains a collection exceeding 20,000 objects from diverse cultures and periods while reaching hundreds of thousands of visitors annually through exhibitions and programs (source). The museum promotes inclusivity by welcoming visitors of all abilities (source) and aims to foster connections within its vibrant space (source). For more than six decades it has provided world-class exhibitions (source).
For further information about these events or tickets contact press@phxart.org or kaylee.weyrauch@phxart.org.
