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Art with Heart

Sharon Figarelli finds fulfillment in her career as a gallery owner

Sharon Figarelli lives, breathesart.

And her passion for Latino art is reflected in every painting and sculpture in her gallery.

Formerly known as the Latin American Art Gallery, Figarelli Contemporary lies a few miles from Old Town Scottsdale, where the gallery has called home since 2001.

Recently renaming the business stemmed from Figarelli’s belief of focusing on the quality of art, rather than labeling an artist based on cultural background. And she carries her love for Latino art close to heart and mind.

“The art is very energized, dramatic and exciting,” she says. “The Latin culture is woven in to the art…it was something that always touched me.”

From colorful paintings that draw you in to their quiet stories, to subtle pieces that evoke a feeling of tranquility, dozens of paintings and sculptures fill the gallery of Figarelli Contemporary.

And Figarelli loves both the art and her experiences that led her to where she’s at today.

Being in the art gallery business for 25 years has seen her through working for various Scottsdale galleries before finally opening her own. In 2000, her reputation in the business presented her with the opportunity to represent Alan Houser, a nationally renowned Native American artist. This was one year before opening her gallery, known as Figarelli Fine Arts.

She says she was moved by both Latino and Native art so much, that she knew opening a gallery was the right move.

“I felt so strongly about the art, and figured if it moved me that strongly, and if perhaps there was an outlet to showcase this amazing art, then customers and art lovers would feel the same way too.”

Figarelli Fine Arts, the sister gallery to Figarelli Contemporary, still exists today and is made up of primarily Southwest sculpture. In addition to the Latino art on exhibit on the contemporary side, the sculptures are created by some of the most noted of Southwest artists.

For Figarelli, representing such artists is an honor, and she says her business represents an unexplainable fulfillment.

“There are so many reasons why a person is drawn towards a particular painting or sculpture…whether it’s based on childhood memories or how they identify with the piece, there is a joy for the customer and artist alike…selecting art is an emotional purchase.”

Complete with a full sculpture garden, Figarelli Contemporary is located on a tree-shaded estate that dates back to Scottsdale’s early years. For Sharon, selecting and bringing the art to her gallery is both challenging and rewarding.

“Surprisingly, a lot of artists approach the gallery, which can be difficult because I want to make sure their art is a fit,” she says. “As far as selecting the art, that comes many times from referrals or I’ll run across art at different shows locally and across the country.”

As for Figarelli’s future plans with the gallery, she says all she can hope for is success for the artists, which in turn will result in success for her and her business.

She looks at herself as a “facilitator”, helping place work with clients who love art, and agrees that her journey has been a challenging but necessary one. She encourages others to do the same.