Phoenix Art Museum will premiere a newly commissioned work by contemporary photographer Cara Romero on June 5 as part of its First Friday celebration, according to a June 3 announcement. The large-scale photograph, titled Coyote Appears at Muhaḍagĭ Doʼag (Greasy Mountain), is Romero’s first triptych and was created at South Mountain Park and Preserve in Phoenix. The piece features Dre Noline, who is San Carlos Apache and Salt River Pima-Maricopa, depicted reclining within the landscape to embody the human connection to Coyote and all animals.
“We are honored to welcome Coyote Appears at Muhaḍagĭ Doʼag (Greasy Mountain) by Cara Romero into the permanent collection of Phoenix Art Museum,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “Cara is one of the most important voices in contemporary photography today, with deep ties to the Desert Southwest, and this work marks a powerful return to black-and-white film after nearly two decades of working digitally. The piece is both visually striking and deeply thoughtful in its reflection on humanity’s relationship to the land, centering Indigenous materials, perspectives, and practices in a way that feels urgent and timeless. We invite our community to join us for June First Friday as we celebrate the unveiling of this extraordinary work.”
Romero said her photograph honors “the desert landscape and Indigenous Mythos that emerges from it.” She added: “It considers flora and fauna as sentient beings and how they can teach us about being in relationship—how all living things are interconnected. The image is a gentle offering and reminder of our shared connection to our landscape.”
Coyote Appears at Muhaḍagĭ Doʼag (Greasy Mountain) is currently displayed on the first floor of the museum’s Katz Wing for Modern Art alongside other contemporary works rooted in place. Romero’s exhibition Panûpünüwügai (Living Light), organized by Hood Museum at Dartmouth College, remains on view through June 28 with 60 photographs spanning ten years that blend fine art with editorial styles.
According to the official website, Phoenix Art Museum operates as the largest art institution in the southwestern United States; it maintains a collection exceeding 20,000 objects from diverse cultures; promotes inclusivity by welcoming visitors of all abilities; offers exhibitions and programs engaging hundreds of thousands annually; provides world-class learning experiences for more than 60 years; and aims to ignite imaginations while fostering connections through vibrant spaces for experiencing art.
