Tucson artists are reeling—and reminiscing—amid the displacement of a forty-six-year-old photography gallery with international clout.
TUCSON—Strolling along a narrow street in Tucson’s Barrio Viejo, you might not realize you’re approaching the doorstep of Etherton Gallery, a renowned art space specializing in contemporary and twentieth century fine art photography by local and international artists.
Situated just up the block from the Museum of Contemporary Art Tucson, the internationally positioned gallery is a staple of the arts ecosystem in the Southwest. But by the end of this year, the gallery plans to leave its current location for an office that lacks exhibition space, according to founder Terry Etherton.
That’s because the gallery’s lease expires on December 31, 2026, a date confirmed by both Etherton and Anne Shiff, president for property owner Bacon Industries. According to Etherton, they denied his request for an extension that would have allowed him to “make the transition as smooth and professional as possible.” Shiff says Etherton “knew on December 31, 2025, that he had one more year in the space.” In any case, the last exhibition will close on November 28, giving the gallery just a month to vacate the space…