When you are an in-demand wildlife sculptor and busy gallery owner like Ken Rowe, it’s not always possible to take a road trip to Montana or Alaska to study your subjects in the field. When Ken needs to stay close to home, he finds inspiration for his next bronze sculpture by visiting wildlife sanctuaries such as Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale. He’s been known to spend entire days at the 10-acre preserve, which is home to rescued wild animals including bears, mountain lions, javelina, coyotes, wolves and bobcats. In order to raise awareness – and funds – for the nonprofit organization, Rowe Fine Art Gallery will host Wild at Heart, a fundraiser and exhibit, on May 2 from 4 to 8 pm.

Representatives from SWCC will be at the gallery along with several animal ambassadors including Sage, a 2-year-old bobcat. Sage was found abandoned on the side of the road in Scottsdale when she was a kitten. After she imprinted on her human caretakers and was unable to be released into the wild, Sage spends her days traveling to schools and local organizations to educate children and adults about the importance of native wildlife.

Sage is also one of Ken’s favorite models. For this fundraiser, Ken has created four clay sketches depicting animals living at SWCC including Sage; a female Mexican gray wolf who continuously outsmarted hunters; an African fox kept as an illegal pet until he escaped from his owners; and a leopard who was tormented by exotic animal breeders working for the Las Vegas entertainment industry and owners of a southern Arizona zoo before being rescued by SWCC in 2011. Make a donation to SWCC for the chance to win one of the four sketches. All donors will also receive a 10 percent discount at Rowe Fine Art Gallery. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

“Many people don’t realize that I sculpt from real-life references,” says Ken, who will head to Alaska to sculpt in the field this summer. “It’s convenient for me to be able to go down to Scottsdale and spend time with these majestic animals. Many have been rescued from some truly heartbreaking situations, and SWCC relies on donations so that they never have to turn away an animal in need. I’m hoping this will be a profitable evening for SWCC and a unique experience for animal lovers. How often do you get to see a bobcat in an art gallery?”

Horizon bronze sculpture by Joshua Tobey.
Photo by Jafe Parsons.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern sculptors, painters and jewelers. The gallery is located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village (336 SR 179, Suite A-102 in Sedona). It is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 928-282-8877.

Sedona, AZ – Joshua Tobey’s first self-portrait didn’t depict a college student on the cusp of following in his artistic father’s footsteps. Instead, he sculpted a bear with flat ears and a morose expression. He titled the sculpture Timid Bear, and it became the cornerstone of his entire career. Today, Joshua sculpts impressionistic wildlife pieces that convey human emotion using the expression and body language of animals including mountain lions, coyotes, buffalos, horses and deer. Come see this unique form of artwork at Rowe Fine Art Gallery during Joshua’s one-man show, Simply Extraordinary, on April 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. and April 5 from 1 to 4 p.m. The show is part of the Sedona Gallery Association’s 1st Friday Gallery Tour.

Joshua, who was recently chosen to be one of two signature artists for the prestigious 2014 Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival, will introduce new works including two pre-cast pieces. The first (currently untitled) sculpture features a bugling elk while the second, titled Rain Dance, captures a mule deer having some fun. “I live in Colorado, and all over the West, we suffer from a lack of rain,” says Joshua. “I watched these mule deer in my front yard in a rainstorm, and they were celebrating it the same way we do.”

The show at Rowe Fine Art Gallery will be Joshua’s only Arizona appearance this year. He has been coming to Sedona every year for the past 12 years, and he’s garnered quite a following. “Rowe Gallery is such a personal space, and I’ll see collectors I’ve known for years as well as meet new ones,” Joshua says. “I learn about my artwork when I meet people and see how they react to the sculptures.”

Joshua was born in Oregon but grew up in Santa Fe where he apprenticed with his father, renowned sculptor Gene Tobey. Joshua graduated from Western State Colorado University with a degree in three-dimensional art. His studio is in Loveland, Colorado.

View more of Joshua Tobey's artwork here...

"Love Gone Wild" bronze sculpture by Ken Rowe

Sedona, AZ – Take a walk on the wild side in October at Rowe Fine Art Gallery! For the first time in his nearly 20 years as a professional artist, Ken Rowe has sculpted the king of the jungle with his newest bronze, Love Gone Wild. The sculpture, which features a male and female African lion, will make its debut during the Sedona Gallery Association’s 1st Friday Gallery Tour on Oct. 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. A handful of lucky art collectors had the good fortune of seeing this piece in its clay form over the summer, but this will be the first time the bronze has been seen, and it’s a special night for Ken.

“I’ve dreamed of sculpting the animals of Africa for years now, so this is a very important piece for me,” says Ken. “I have to admit, it’s one of my favorite sculptures so far, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.”

Love Gone Wild isn’t the only piece Ken will unveil. Cat lovers can further rejoice over the debut of Cantankerous, a bust of a regal bobcat. And this summer, Ken traveled to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks three times, doing field studies of animals including the parks’ majestic bison herds. Ken was fortunate enough to witness a herd of buffalo running across the grasslands at more than 40 miles per hour. The rumbling of the earth and the cloud of dust generated by the herd inspired Ken to create a sculpture that captures the respect and wonder elicited by this quintessential symbol of the American West. Stop by to see the clay sketch of the not-yet-titled piece and hear about Ken’s exciting summer travels.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 928-282-8877.

See more of Ken Rowe's artwork here...

Words of Wisdom (10.5”HX5.25”WX6”D) bronze sculpture
by Ken Rowe

Sedona, AZ – You can feel it in the air: Autumn is right around the corner. Bid adieu to summer and welcome a change of season at Rowe Fine Art Gallery on Sept. 6 from 5 to 8 p.m. during the Sedona Gallery Association’s 1st Friday Gallery Tour. You’ll find a beautiful selection of southwestern and wildlife art that will get you in the mood for changing leaves and cooler temperatures. A highlight of the show is Ken Rowe’s newest sculpture, Words of Wisdom, a set of bronze bookends featuring male and female great horned owls. Meet Ken, grab a glass of wine, and “fall” in love with art during this fun evening.

Sedona, AZ – If you’re having a difficult time “bearing” the summer heat, Rowe Fine Art Gallery has the perfect remedy. Take a break from the dog days of summer at the gallery on Aug. 2 from 5 to 8 p.m. during the Sedona Gallery Association’s 1st Friday Gallery Tour. Wildlife sculptor and gallery owner Ken Rowe will spotlight one of the newest additions to his portfolio: Wading for Mom. The bronze features two bear cubs impatiently waiting for an unseen mama bear to return with a salmon dinner. The sculpture was inspired by one of Ken’s recent trips to Alaska, and once you hear the story and see the petulant looks on the cub’s faces, you can’t help but smile.

“I watched one day as a bear and her cubs approached a rushing river,” recalls Ken. “The river was too wild for the cubs to cross, so the mother made them wait on the shore while she went to fish. In the middle of it all, she found a beach area where she laid down and took a nap. The incredulous cubs bellowed and tried to convince her to return, but she just ignored them until she was good and ready to resume her parental duties.”

While you’re enjoying Ken’s latest work, check out new arrivals from the gallery’s selection of traditional and contemporary southwestern artists. Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents award-winning artists including sculptors Kim Kori, Richard Loffler, Alvin Marshall, Nicolai Medvedev, Erik Petersen, Ken Rowe, Jason Scull and Joshua Tobey; painters Mark Eberhard, Vince Fazio, Lynn Heil, Sue Krzyston, John Poon and Gabor Svagrik; graphite artist Jack Morley; jewelers Cherie Danielle, Jennifer Inge and Liam Herbert; and handcrafted knives by Ken Steigerwalt.

Wading for Mom (9”HX10”WX4”D) bronze sculpture
by Ken Rowe

Words of Wisdom (10.5”HX5.25”WX6”D) bronze sculpture
by Ken Rowe

“Bacon and Eggs” bronze by Nicolai Medvedev

Rowe Fine Art Gallery is located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village. It is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 928-282-8877.

For the past 30 years, Russia-born Nicolai Medvedev has focused his talent on intricate inlay gemstone boxes, garnering the attention of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh and the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., to name just a few. But Nicolai temporarily put aside the lapis and malachite in favor of bronze after taking some sculpting classes taught by Ken Rowe at the Sedona Arts Center. Rowe Fine Art Gallery, which is owned by Ken, is the only gallery to represent Nicolai’s exotic wildlife sculptures. Be one of the first to see this extraordinary artist’s work during “An Artful Journey,” part of the Sedona Gallery Association’s 1st Friday Gallery Tour, on Jan. 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. Nicolai, who relocated from Tucson to Sedona to be closer to northern Arizona’s world-class foundries, will be on hand to answer questions and meet art lovers.

Nicolai began his formal art training at the age of 12 in his native country, and he completed his master’s degree at the Art Institute of Moscow in 1979. He says he dabbled in sculpture at the beginning of his education, but he didn’t revisit it until taking Ken’s class nearly three years ago. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1980 and created oil paintings for a few years before discovering gemstones and intarsia. He’s been a full-time artist for 30 years.

“When I started sculpting, I felt like I had discovered myself in a sense,” says Nicolai. “I’m trying to create a marriage between my sculpting and my work with gemstones. Both are three-dimensional pieces of art, and I use stones as inspiration for the patina on my bronze sculptures. But it’s still a learning process, and I’m grateful for the help of artists like Ken and Erik Petersen.”

Stop by Rowe Gallery to meet Nicolai! Wine and appetizers will be served.

“Wolf Speaks” (12.5”Hx8”Wx10”D)
in Utah Alabaster by Alvin Marshall

Rowe Fine Art Gallery is located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village. It is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 928-282-8877.

Sedona, AZ – When Navajo sculptor Alvin Marshall holds a piece of Utah alabaster in his hands, he isn’t just touching a rock. He’s communing with his ancestors and working to turn the stone into spirit. “My people use stone in traditional ceremonies. Alabaster is closely associated with water and water ceremonies,” says Alvin, who lives near Farmington, New Mexico. “It’s beautiful, forgiving and it lends itself to me easily. It doesn’t fight or argue. Together, we make a spirit.”

Rowe Fine Art Gallery began representing Alvin and his figurative stone sculptures this fall. On December 7 from 4 to 8 p.m. during the Sedona Gallery Association’s 1st Friday Gallery Tour, Rowe Fine Art presents Stones with Stories, an artist’s reception and exhibit featuring Alvin. Visit the gallery and meet the artist, who will even bring some of his tools and discuss his process. Wine and appetizers will be served. The show runs through December 22.

After a stint with the U.S. Army, Alvin studied sculpture with renowned Navajo artist Oreland Joe in the early 1980s. Though he received no formal training, Alvin rejects the idea of being self-taught. “Nobody is self-taught,” he says. “I learned from other artists, from teachers and from friends, and from my travels.” In fact, before Alvin traveled to Italy, he says he had a dream where Michelangelo told him to appreciate European art but seek out Alvin’s own niche. Partly because of that profound revelation, the models for Alvin’s figurative sculptures all live on the Navajo Reservation.

“They could be my grandmother, my neighbor or my friend,” he says. “Each face is different, and like each face, each piece of stone is different. That has always been my goal. I strive to create unique, one-of-a-kind pieces.”

“Vantage Point” (4”Hx8”Wx4”D) bronze by Ken Rowe;
“Heat of the Moment” (7”Hx4.5”Wx3.75“D) bronze by Kim Kori.

View more of Ken's work here. And Kim's work here.

Sedona, AZ – With Thanksgiving right around the corner, most of us find ourselves reflecting on what makes us grateful in life. Local wildlife sculptors Kim Kori and Ken Rowe are thankful for the four-legged and winged creatures that inspire both of them on a daily basis. To show their appreciation, Kim and Ken will host “All God’s Creatures Great and Small” on Saturday, November 17 from 5 to 8 p.m. The evening includes a silent auction with proceeds benefiting the Humane Society of Sedona.

Kim’s auction item, “Heat of the Moment,” features a lizard lounging on a red chili pepper (valued at $1,100). A bee is perched on the pepper’s stem. “This is my most recent sculpture,” says Kim. “It’s a companion piece to ‘Fruitful Moment,’ which featured a lizard laying on a pear. That sold out, so this is the follow up. I thought it would be fun to do something southwestern, and this guy has a lot of charm.”

Ken will auction off “Vantage Point,” a sculpture that was inspired by his relationship with a captive mountain lion that lives in Montana (valued at $1,100). Ken, who owns Rowe Fine Art Gallery, says he hopes to make the fundraiser an annual event. “Kim and I have a soft spot for all of our feather and furred – and scaled – friends,” says Ken. “The Humane Society of Sedona’s mission mirrors our passion, and we hope this is a very successful evening for them.”

Representatives from the Humane Society will be on hand to discuss the nonprofit organization’s life-saving work, and Kim and Ken will also be present. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Rowe Fine Art Gallery is located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village. It is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 928-282-8877.

"Apache Girl" • Graphite on Paper by Jack Morley

View more of Jack Morley's work here...

Sedona, AZ – Gallery owners Ken and Monica Rowe are both Arizona natives, and they have called Sedona home for nearly 20 years. The duo have a unique appreciation for local artists, which is why they are devoting October to celebrating the talented men and women who create their art right here in Red Rock Country. On Oct. 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. during the Sedona Gallery Association’s 1st Friday Gallery Tour, make Rowe Fine Art your first stop and meet some of the most talented artists living in northern Arizona. Wine and appetizers will be served.

When Ken and Monica opened Rowe Fine Art Gallery in 2010, they felt strongly about representing Sedona talent. “There are so many beautiful locations in the world, but there’s something truly unique about Sedona,” says Monica. “Our little town has been attracting artists for nearly 100 years. Ken and I want to shine a spotlight on the artists who have been so inspired by our stunning landscape that they’ve decided to make northern Arizona their residence.”

During the Oct. 5 artist’s reception, meet sculptors Ken Rowe and Kim Kori. Painters Vince Fazio and Lynn Heil will also be in attendance, as will jewelers Cherie Danielle and Liam Herbert. Rowe Gallery’s only graphite artist, Jack Morley, will make an appearance as well. With so many award-winning artists in the same room, this is sure to be a lively evening and one you won’t want to miss!

Rowe Fine Art Gallery represents traditional and contemporary southwestern painters, sculptors and jewelers. The gallery, located under the bell tower in Patio de las Campanas at Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village, is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 928-282-8877.