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The Republic
- Bentley Gallery in downtown Phoenix will close on Sept. 13, 2025.
- Bentley Gallery is a cornerstone of the Phoenix art scene, representing artists and fostering a community of art enthusiasts.
- The closure was announced on Instagram, prompting an outpouring of appreciation from the community.
For 41 years the Bentley Gallery in downtown Phoenix has been a cornerstone for contemporary art that has grown with the metro Phoenix arts scene and provided a place for artists to flourish.
Founded in 1984 by Bentley Calverley, the Bentley Gallery began in Scottsdale’s high-end arts district on Marshall Way. In 2004, Calverley opened an additional space to accommodate larger events in Phoenix’s historic warehouse district. In 2012, she relocated all gallery operations to that warehouse and in 2015, Calverley downsized to a more intimate space near Roosevelt Row.
On May 29, 2025, the Bentley Gallery Instagram announced it is closing.
The post reads, “After four remarkable decades of presenting leading-edge contemporary art in the heart of the Southwest, Bentley Gallery announces its official closure. This decision marks the end of an era for our gallery that has long been a vital force in Arizona’s cultural landscape.”
Bently Gallery will shutter for good on Sept. 13, 2025.
Bentley Gallery in Phoenix says goodbye
In a newsletter posted on the Bentley Gallery website, Calverley and Craig Randich, the gallery’s director, expressed gratitude for all of the artists, collectors, curators, critics, institutions and the community for joining them in their journey.
“To the artists — thank you for entrusting us with your work, your stories, and your visions. Representing your practices has been the heart of everything we do. Your courage, experimentation and insight brought life to our walls and meaning to our mission.
“To our collectors — thank you for your passion, your patronage and your enduring belief in the power of art. Your support not only sustained the gallery but also helped build lasting collections and legacies that extend well beyond our walls.
“To our partnering institutions, critics and curators — thank you for championing our artists and contributing to the dialogue that makes art so vital. Your engagement ensured that our exhibitions resonated far and wide.
“To our dedicated staff — past and present — thank you for your professionalism, loyalty and care. Your hard work behind the scenes made each show, opening and interaction shine with purpose and integrity.
“And to the broader Phoenix community — thank you for embracing contemporary art, showing up, speaking up and helping shape a city that values creative expression. We are proud to have been part of your cultural fabric.”
What’s next for the owner of Bentley Gallery
As for Calverley, she plans to spend her upcoming free time globetrotting.
“Egypt’s terrain can be a bit more challenging, so I would like to make that trip sooner than later,” Calverley said in the newsletter. “Japan is also on the horizon. Though I’m retiring from the gallery world, I have spent my career cultivating an appreciation for art and culture and that will simply persist in new forms.”
Randich wrote that he will be leaning into his “own creative practice.”
Calverley and Randich closed the announcement with these parting words:
“While Bentley Gallery as a physical space is closing September 13, the relationships built, the artwork placed and the conversations sparked will continue. Art lives on in the homes and institutions where it now resides and it is our sincere hope that the legacy of the gallery will continue to inspire those who believe in the transformative power of contemporary art.
“In the coming months, we will be sharing highlights from the gallery’s history and celebrating some of the more notable moments and milestones. We invite our community to join us during these last months and final opening events to honor this moment — and to look ahead to new and evolving ways of supporting art and artists in Arizona and beyond.”
Phoenix arts community sends fond farewells to Bentley Gallery
Not surprisingly, the Bentley Gallery Instagram announcement came with comments of appreciation and sadness.
Commenter raphaellegoethals replied, “Thank you for all you have done, for so many. Bentley embodied the best of the Southwest, and leaves an incredible legacy and mark on the region. Thank you for the representation, it was a joy and honor to work with the gallery. Sending love, gratitude and all best wishes for your travel adventures.”
Commenter keith.galbut wrote, “Thank you for all of the contributions you’ve made to our community. The artists you supported, the collectors that you cared for and the art community that you fostered are all very appreciative and grateful. Thank you Bentley, Craig and all of the current and future colleagues. The legacy and impact you created is tremendous. With appreciation!”
Commenter grant.vetter wrote, “Bentley was the first dealer who talked to me about contemporary art when I was still in high school! Congrats to an amazing legacy!”
Commenter mmbills wrote, “Thank you for your commitment to elevating the arts in Arizona to the highest level and for your gracious hospitality for over forty years. Our lives are richer because of your thoughtfulness.”
Details: Bentley Gallery, 250 E. McKinley St., Phoenix. (480) 946-6060, bentleygallery.com.
Meredith G. White covers entertainment, art and culture for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. She writes the latest news about video games, television and best things to do in metro Phoenix.
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