Yayoi Kusama Fireflies Infinity Mirror Room

I was a bit underwhelmed by this particular exhibit. From the promotional material and anticipation, I expected something more expansive and immersive. In reality, the installation consists of lights suspended in a very small, dark room with mirrors, which—while visually striking—felt quite limited in scale. Unfortunately, the size of the space made it difficult to fully engage with the atmosphere, especially when crowded. The constant flow of people disrupted any emotions the room might have offered, which I believe is essential to experiencing the piece as intended. While the concept is interesting and the visual effect can be quite trippy, the overall experience felt short-lived and didn't quite justify the $25 admission fee to the museum. I think with better spatial planning or timed entry, the impact could be significantly improved.

This is one of my favorite exhibits of the Phoenix Art Museum. It's interactive as you can immerse yourself in the exhibit. Essentially, you will walk in through the entrance (it's marked) and firstly, you can read a sign to learn about the artist and the work- basically the idea is to lose yourself of self. As you walk in, there's a bunch of lights hanging down (think individually strung Christmas lights) and a bunch of mirrors. The lighting periodically gets darker ever few seconds so you feel afraid to step forward. Don't worry, you won't knock anything down. Just keep walking and keep your hands out if you are scared of hitting the mirrors. The mirrors are essentially on the sides of the room. Facing forward, if you go ahead, there's a mirror at the far end, but on the right side of it, there's an opening and you follow that way out. Beautiful and even more fun if you go early and avoid the crowds and it's just you and you truly let yourself feel lost.

This was a total highlight on our trip through the museum. It gives a very House of Mirrors vibe when you walk into the dark room from the bright lights of the museum. Then your eyes adjust and you are walking in a romanticized memory of catching fireflies as a kid. I absolutely loved it.

Little bit of a let down. I've seen carnival mirror mazes do a better job at illusions. It needed to be bigger and hid the exits better. Sure people would have complained then, but that's real art, not this "safe play".

This is always a highlight of any trip to the Phx art museum. So simple yet so beautiful. Looking forward to them moving it and doing the conservation process. Can't wait for it to reopen and experience again like the 1st time.

It is a mirrored room filled with lights simulating stars. It's very difficult to tell where you're going but very fascinating. I did make it all the way through although it was difficult. There is an attendant inside in case you need help.

Highly recommend it. It's on the second floor at the end. You'll see an opening, just walk on in. If you get lost ask the staff they'll happily show you the way. It's very dark and finding your way out may be confusing but worth the visit.

Went with the wife here it was very intriguing. Yayoi's exhibit was exceptional I would recommend walking right into the middle and getting lost.

We spent almost 2 hours. Very good exhibitions today. We have a membership, it's worth it.

5 star, top tier museum experience. Great way to beat the heat in Phoenix, too. Easy to find parking and not too packed, even on a summer weekend. I hope you'll feel fortunate to experience the great contemporary works and really incredible older collection pieces. Yayoi Kusama's art installation is worth the price of admission! It's interactive and trippy and fun to experience with others. Art can be so many things and it's cool to remember "fun" is one of those many things. Discovering the photography of Omar Soto here was also a highlight. For paintings, it's a thrill to see a Picasso, a Monet, an O'Keeffe and always a blessing to see a Mark Rothko painting. I wonder how many times these pieces have been restored. How many of the strokes that you can see on canvas are from the original painter? Does it become the Ship of Theseus? The layout flowed well, I felt like I got to experience every exhibit on every floor over the course of a few hours. Steps and elevators to navigate to the mezzanine and second and third floors. It's not as sprawling and daunting as the Met in New York or MOCA in San Francisco. I'd compare this to exploring a mid-to-large sized museum like the Broad in Los Angeles. I hope my frame of references work for you. You nerdy art museum lover, you.

Attended their Juneteenth event. Was very excited until I realized I was 4 hours too early. The advertisement should have been clearer about the start time and should have placed that information at the beginning of the event details. Luckily I attended with someone who lives in walking distance. We left and came back 3 hrs later for the actual event. It also would have been great to have some local artist art work displayed near the event area to offer more to the theme of the event. The open mic segment was really nice. I spoke with a few people they felt the same way. The other exhibits were nice, and if you are a fashionista the Anna Sui exhibit is in to see.

Hadn't been here in years but they had a family free admission fun day so we had to go! There is so much to see and they change up exhibits! I enjoyed all the Anna Sui stuff. Really fun for all ages and my son seemed to really enjoy it as well (especially the caged red dinosaur outside). Parking is easy too, a huge plus in downtown phx. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Phoenix, we will be returning for sure!

A great way to spend the day! Unique exhibits such as the Fireflies (yayoi kusama), several of Keith Harings's work and a special exhibit ( world of Anna Sui). While not a large Asian collection, they have some unique pieces from Nepal and the Sikh community. Not a lot of classical European masters but they do have a beautiful Monet. I did find their contemporary/ modern art collection pretty cool including a lovely Joseph Stella piece (flowers). Another unique must see is their Fashion collection. They are doing some renovations and plan to get some new exhibits soon - making another trip there due soon. The space is large and so do plan on getting some steps in. They also do offer complimentary docent tours which I highly encourage to get a chance to see and learn some cool history about the artists. Definitely worth a visit (and revisit).

the phoenix art museum is for sure my favorite museum in phoenix. the collection of art is spectacular, and although smaller than the average museum (i guess in comparison to other states), i feel it's conciseness and thoughtful architecture make it so special. we came for first friday, and to see the anna sui exhibit, which was AMAZING! the collection was extensive, the design and curation had a great flow and i was enamored. the museum is free on first fridays, with multiple activities and food & drink options to enjoy. i believe the upper floors are blocked off, so it's slightly limited, but i thought it could be a great date spot before hitting the town! definitely need to come back next first Friday.

Huge space. Very bright and airy with contemporary and non-contemporary art. Pizarro, Rodin pieces left an indelible impression. The Asian display was solid and well-curated. The Sikh art display was an unexpected surprise. The Anna Sui Special Exhibit was extraordinary. What an enormously talented and creative person. I hope my pics capture this not to be missed Museum when visiting beautiful Phoenix.

I enjoy coming to this museum to see their permanent and special exhibits. I'm glad I was able to see Anna Sui exhibit. Overall, this is a museum that has a wide variety of art. There is also an area for kids. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone who appreciates art.

The Phoenix Art Museum is one of the best museums in Arizona and one of the best art museums in the country. I've never had a bad experience or been disappointed when visiting and the staff is also stellar. It has 4 floors including 2 upper levels and a lower level as well. This museum offers works by some of the greatest artists of all time from Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, Frida Kahlo and many others. The very best part is that on the top level, the Phoenix Art Museum boasts an infinity room installation by the incredible Yayoi Kusama. "You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies" is a spectacular display of light and mirrors. You enter a medium size room that is in complete darkness except for dangling small lights coming from the ceiling. The room is completely covered in mirrors making it appear as though it goes on forever and like there are millions of lights. It is an incredible experience and a breathtaking exhibit that never gets old. The museum offers Pay As You May Wednesdays from 3-9pm where entrance is free for all, though donations are highly encouraged. They also offer rotating exhibits on their main and second floor that are incredible. In this museum you can find works of art such as paintings, installations, sculptures, films, fashion designs, miniatures, and relics from several parts of the world and from different time periods among other forms of art. There is something for everyone. They even offer an exhibit that displays the art work of staff and volunteers which I find incredible! The museum also offers a small cafe that I've yet to visit, but it offers lunch and brunch options. In addition, the gift store is large and full of amazing gifts, trinkets and items for sale from current exhibits and other whimsical items to choose from. I've come to this museum several times and always find something new thanks to their large collection that is often rotated. They cannot display all of their artwork, so I believe they have them on rotation which means guests get to see new items all the time. The main floor also offers rooms where films or visual displays can be seen. A particularly impactful exhibit named "The Visitors" was one of my favorites of all time. This museum MUST be on your list of fun things to do in Phoenix. They also offer workshops and fun activities for children as well. Incredible place that I love to recommend to people. 5/5, one of the best places to visit in Phoenix and in all of AZ.

Absolutely incredible collection !! The museum houses a diverse and stimulating range of both modern and more historical art pieces. If you're an art lover, you could easily spend 2 to 4 hours here. The place just keeps going... I really enjoyed their fashion exhibition. Also, the Yayoi Kusama infinity room had no line which is so lucky ! They have pieces from Rodin, Picasso, and local artists too ! This was better than Lacma.

Visiting the area and had to check out this place. It's a great place. The staff at the desk were really nice. Security was very nice about backpack rules since I had a large backpack with me. The variety of exhibits.. all are good. Huge museum so definitely set a side a good amount of time. I had an awesome experience.

This museum is HUGE. Make sure you save an ample amount of time prior to going so you don't feel rushed to look through all of the awesome art.

The Phoenix Art Museum has quite a diverse collection. Everything from Contemporary, to abstract, to 13th century cathedral artifacts and thousand year old Ming dynasty pieces. I would say it's half history museum because it has art from so many eras. This museum boasts over 20,000 objects in it's collection. I think you could easily miss most of the museum if you aren't careful. There was construction being done when I visited and it made it a bit confusing to navigate between the different corridors and buildings. It also took me a long time to realized the center atrium/sculpture garden was open. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to reenter the museum but they station a security guard there to let people in and out. I think it's also good info to know that there is a bar and cafe in the theater building on the far side of the atrium. It was a godsend for me because the temporary cafe inside the main museum hall has closed for the night and I was really starting to crash after a couple of hours of exploring. And it's just nice to get some fresh air. If you are on a budget, the museum has "pay what you want Wednesday" every Wednesday after 3pm. All in all, I would say it was a worthwhile experience visiting the museum and seeing all the art and I 100% plan to return to see future exhibits.

Another great visit! This time it was First Friday and I was there to enjoy the Dia De Muertos event. This was so much fun! We had a lot of fun doing the craft at Crafty Chica's table. We love the candles we made. We were listening to music the whole time and just vibing. The offrenda table was amazing!! A lot of work went into that and it shows! While we didn't partake in the food trucks there, we did stop by and took a look. Definitely some yummy trucks at the event. My favorite part had to be the people walking around in the costumes. They put so much energy into reacting with the guests, they were just so much fun to watch! We loved that they visited us at the craft table and "admired" our work :-)

It's always a great time in the new exhibits. I love seeing all the new art pieces. I still believe security needs to relax a little bit. I didn't appreciate the security blaming me for something I wasn't near. But I understood their orders.

The art museum has so many different pieces for fans of all types of art. I really liked the modern/contemporary section of the museum. This space is very grand with tall ceilings and multiple stories of art. You can find everything from old European art to shockingly cool modern creations. The building itself is reason enough to make a visit. The museum is divided into different areas from several eras of its existence. There are older parts that feel more homey and newer sections that feel like a high-class exhibit in a world city like New York. It is a great place to walk indoors when it is super hot outside. The museum could substitute mall walking for something slightly more cultured. The museum also has a scavenger hunt for kids searching for art depicting water, something that makes you feel happy, and other descriptions. There is a prize waiting in the gift shop for whoever finishes! The only minor inconvenience with the museum is that, unlike other art museums, the piece descriptions are all stacked together off to the left or right on a wall. Other than that the museum is fantastic. It is straightforward to get to because the streetcar is close by. Driving here is also easy with a large parking lot.

I was about 4 hours too early for the Juneteenth Celebration being held here, so I decided to have my own celebration, via the Barbie exhibit. When the first "Black Barbie" was introduced in 1968 she couldn't be named Barbie. She had to be introduced as a friend named Christie. In 1980, the first Hispanic and African American Barbies were introduced. Whether she was "Christie, the friend" or Barbie in her own right, she and her international, diverse, multicultural, multifaceted, multitasking, multi talented friends have been inspiring girls and boys to step outside of the norm, see the beauty in our world, and to dream big. Bravo Barbie!

This is a great museum! We come whenever there is a new exhibit, and it never disappoints. We came especially to catch the Barbie exhibit before closes on July 7. It was very, very busy. What great fun it was to see the history of Barbie and to remember the Barbie dolls I had way back when I was a kid. There were giant Barbie boxes and a life-size Barbie Corvette for photo opportunities. There was a wall with displays of Barbie clothes displayed, and life-size dream house replica furniture. It was all very fun! We also saw the Multiple Realities, Experimental Art in the Eastern Bloc exhibit. It was definitely interesting, even if maybe not my cup of tea. And finally, we got to see Tayoi Kusama Fireflies--which is very, very cool! It was the fourth time, and I hope not the last. It's only a few minutes, but it's super cool!

Long time patron, first time reviewer. Walking through today, a docent approached my little family and I and said, "it's never too early to start them." And I absolutely believe that! Aside from my own personal politics, exposure to the arts and culture can result in understanding human expression. And I'm happy that today, the Phoenix Art Museum held their Family Fun Day, which had free admission and programs for the little ones! The exhibits vary, but there is something always for everyone. I also love that they highlight local artists from time to time. The parking today was rough, though, and we had to circle around a few times. Typically, parking is easy to find. The gift shop is also great and we've bought plenty of photography books from here, even some that are out of print. We will be back, especially once they open more exhibits. They also have Pay As You Wish Days, which can make it more accessible to those who usually don't visit.

Great museum in the downtown area. They had a small China exhibit when we were there. The designer vintage clothing upstairs is wonderful. Cafe is not open as being renovated

We have been a few times when in the area and have always enjoyed it. They have something for everyone here from traditional to contemporary works. Check out the Yayoi Kusama infinity room, which is really as cool as people say it is! This museum may not be huge but has some real gems and is nicely laid out.

I went to the museum on Wednesday night for the free or "pay what you can" admission! The check in was very quick and easy. There is a lot to park in right in front. It's a beautiful art museum with a nice variety of exhibits. I always love the fireflies infinity mirror room! There was a new butterfly black cloud exhibit when you first walked in that was mesmerizing.

This art museum is up there for me. I really love that they have a balance of well known artists like Monet and Frida Kahlo but also exhibits of local less known artists. One of my favorites there was the Yayoi Kusama immersive butterfly exhibit. I also really enjoyed the miniature room exhibit with replicas of actual historical interior spaces.

My family loves the art museum! My husband and I enjoy the art and the kids have fun with the scavenger hunts. Plus the beautiful courtyard provides a great respite if the kids hit their limit with hand-holding and being quiet. The family membership is relatively inexpensive considering you get unlimited visits to an air-conditioned family outing.

LOVED this museum! We easily spent over three hours here, so the entry fee of $25 seemed very reasonable. The museum is large with a diverse variety of art. There is a small wing with information on the history of fashion, lots of modern art, an Asian art section with some pieces that are 700+ years old. If you are an art lover, this is a must visit while in Phoenix!

I've been here twice! One time for the Barbie exhibit and another time for the free museum Tuesdays. Living in downtown; this has been such a fun spot to check out when different exhibits come through. Great place to visit if you're looking to stay inside on a hot day, and think it's a great location as it's near bars and restaurants.

The Phoenix Art Museum is a great spot to escape as the weather heats up. The Barbie exhibit is super fun and we learned so much about Barbie that we didn't know. Be sure to snap pic in the Barbie convertible!!

Pricing is fair. Exhibits are fun to look at. Love that some exhibits remain in the museum whereas others get rotated out. Always something new to see. Not very many people occupying it when we went which was nice as my first time going was on a first Friday event and it was very busy. Took about 2 hours to experience the full museum. Would definitely come back.

The Phoenix Art Museum is top notch! The last time I was here was actually for Phoenix Design Week. While they know how to host, they also have a wonderful, masterfully curated collection of art. This particular trip was one of our new, intentional date nights. I chose Pay what you wish Wednesday and it was wonderful!

Never met a Museum we didn't love and the Phoenix Art Museum sure does deliver. So many exhibits to see but we came for the BARBIE exhibit. It was something. You should go. On the small size, but the curation and the 100s of Barbies to look at were fun and excellent.

Eclectic collection of art. I visited the Phoenix Art Museum on a Saturday afternoon, and there was minimal crowding. The collection consists of Asian art, desert landscapes, impressionist art, modern sculpture, European portraiture, modern American art, American landscapes, religious art, and miniature rooms. A particular highlight was a disorienting mixed media installation featuring mirrors, darkness, and hanging lights. Overall, I spent about 1 hour and 10 minutes at the Phoenix Art Museum, and I would recommend it to fans of the visual arts.

What a fun time!!!!! We went here for First Friday in February which was Black History Month and it was a blast! The museum is huge!!!! I would say to see and do everything calmly you would need at least 4-5 hours. We were there about 2.5 and felt rush because there was so much and we wanted to see and do everything! They had food trucks, DJs throughout the museum, guided tour guides giving us the history of the paintings and Harlem Coffee which was incredible! The coffee tasted so so good! There was 6 of us in the group and we all loved our coffee and matcha! The vibe was vibing and everyone was having so much fun. Family friendly, our girls had a blast! They had a famous Grammy nominated piano performer who was there with Martin Luther Kings manifestos playing. It was emotional and moving. The room full of lights was a blast and our 13 year old daughter said she can't wait to come back for the next First Friday. We all can't wait to go back plus it's free unless you choose to give a donation.

The Phoenix Art Museum is fantastic! We came in on a pay-what-you-wish Wednesday evening and had a great time exploring for 2+ hours. There are many notable artists represented, including Picasso, Miró, Monet, O'Keeffe, and Rivera. I really love the Frida Kahlo they have here. It's dark and unique. The Kehinde Wileys are also very much worth a visit, both the large-scale one on the first floor and the smaller ones on the second. There's also the Kusama Fireflies Infinity Room, which we were pleased to see there was no line to enter. And the Thorne miniature rooms are a marvel! There's great variety in their permanent collection, and when we came there were some cool special exhibits as well, including one focused on emerging local artists. Exploring this museum is a great way to get out of the Arizona sun and see some beautiful, thought-provoking pieces!

Amazing place to visit when near downtown, love that they have soo many events here and things are always changing!

The Phoenix Art Museum is a wonderful example of Phoenix's exceptional creativity. You need to plan no less than a half day if you want to see all of the many disconnected exhibit halls even if you only read half of the exhibit descriptions. As mentioned in another review, the infinity room is amazing! Picture yourself in complete darkness with tiny dots of light like stars reflected out into infinity. I had a hard time moving in any direction due to how overwhelming the effect was! Another noteworthy exhibit was the butterflies between the hall between the lobby and the first exhibit halls. It is quite a thought provoking experience. The exhibit halls are filled with everything from Monet to Calder, as well as many well-known and up-and-coming contemporary artists. Another thought provoking exhibit was the air crash display. It was essentially a representation of a city with an over-flying plane that crashes. It runs on a timer, so a few times an hour the plane crashes. You can imagine the emotional response to such a tragedy. There is too much to go into any real detail here, but the exhibits cover everything from textures, colors, photography, mobiles, miniatures, and sensory art. Being handicapped, I found the distances to cover were too much for me. Seating was limited in some areas which caused me to be unable to complete my entire planned visit. Particularly, the third floor seating was problematic. This means we will need to return soon to finish seeing everything, but I know it will be worth it. Next time I will bring my little folding camp stool so i will be able to sit when needed. They did have wheelchairs available throughout the museum lobbies but I am not able to use one due to my handicap. A great choice of must-see family friendly places in the valley!

Lots of interesting exhibits to see, beautiful court yard to enjoy a refreshing Tea! (Restaurant was currently under construction) Definitely worth getting the yearly pass :)) can't wait to go again!

Fantastic art museum. Perfect size. Easy to navigate and some very interesting art pieces. Very friendly and helpful staff. I hung out in the coffee shop while my friend perused the museum. Then late in the afternoon I bought a ticket. Easy to do the museum in less than 2 hours.

If you love art, it's worth a visit once. Cover several floors and several wings, you could easily spend an hour or two wandering. They have modern art, old art, and even a small sculpture garden. The building itself is a work of art. Coming from D.C. where we have world class museums for free, the $25 entrance fee was a tough pill to swallow. Worth it once.

What's more amazing than going to a Museum? Going in and realizing there is a whole BARBIE EXHIBITION! According to my cousin, I was living her dream. I had such a great time at Phoenix Art Museum. Normally museum because you see all the same types of art work, but this one was quite enjoyable. Different art from different cultures, different sculptures and did I say Barbies. Honestly my highlight was reliving my childhood learning more about the creation and evolution of Barbie over the decades. I loved the tiny houses/rooms on display; the detail was impeccable. There was enough art work to keep me entertained for almost three hours. I will definitely be back and keep my eyes open for future exhibitions.

Free Wednesday! :) Had so much fun exploring and being zen with the art. This museum was big enough to enjoy for at least 2 hours or so. Their layouts with the paintings were hung beautifully, different structures and a lot of colorful themes.

Came here with a group on a fieldtrip and had a couple hours to wander around and look at the exhibits. I thought some were good but I guess I just don't get some of the more modern art parts. But that's just me I think. Some of the art looked like a 5 year old could have painted it. I'm trying to learn to appreciate it more. My favorite part by far was the firefly light show. I thought that was amazing. I was the only one in there so I spent extra long in there. It is a bit disorienting as it's hard to tell if you are walking in to a wall or not. But I loved it.

It was Family Fun day at the Phoenix Art Museum. While the free parking lot was busy, people were spread out in the museum. There was no problem seeing the exhibits. I had advance reservations for admission so breezed right in. Staff were nice. We started at the third level and worked our way down. Lots of interesting things to see. There are a lot of security guards and museum staff available to answer questions and direct the patrons. The gift shop is a fun stop too. We enjoyed our time there. WiFi in the Museum.

Lovely museum and quite expansive actually. They have a very worthy collection of works by famous European masters. Also a substantial collection of Southwestern and Latino works. The museum also forays into contemporary works of today by lesser known artists. My only issue with the museum is the lighting. They still use old incandescent spot lights dimmed down for preservation purposes which casts an ugly orange, dim cast on works. I'm sure it is a large undertaking but they really should put fundraising resources into new technology lighting.

The Barbie exhibition is not just for little girls! It was not only a memory feast but a fun way to refresh my memory about the various decades of history that I've lived through. It was enjoyable to see the young girls all excited about the dolls they were familiar with and also to see men accompanying their wives and girlfriends and being engaged in sharing memories of clothing styles, social conventions, and historical events. I was impressed to learn about the various faces and shapes now available for the dolls. While the museum restaurant is closed, the area has plenty of other options (I chose Wild Thaiger a few blocks west for a Thai lunch special under $12).

What a beautifully and well layer out art museum. We participated in the Free Wednesday General Admission and loved the quick and courteous admission desk service. The long line went quickly! Do come early on these nights though as parking fills up quickly. There are beautiful works throughout. My favorites are the Madonna and Child oil paintings from the Renaissance as well as the contemporary Indian artworks. There is truly something for all tastes here. The temporary Barbie exhibit was here at the time as well as a corresponding fashion exhibit. We did not partake in it as it was an additional fee but it looked amazing.

It's always a vibe here and the exhibits are breathtaking they even have pay what you wish Wednesday and evening events!!! I love this Museum

The Phoenix Arts museum is celebrating their 64th year! Currently on exhibit Japanese Folk Art, Mr. M an anime artist, Sama Alshaibi's generation after generation, Geoffrey Beene fashion collection and Philip C. Curtis landscape are on exhibit just to name a few until November 2023. It had a peaceful vibe through the halls during this Thursday's March 2nd visit. Being before noon, it is busy with visitors but still serene. The elevators were handy and convenient for older folks. There were helpful staff ready to assist you or answer any questions. The nice gift shop offers unique gifts and not one just relating to the exhibits. Jewelry, writing graphite stones and humorous jokes on items made my sister and I laugh out loud! Free, easy parking and WiFi. My relatives from out of town were very complimentary and said they'd revisit this museum.

Beautiful art museum! Great way to spend a few hours in downtown phoenix. There is a ton of parking and lots of fun special exhibits. They also have a nice little cafe and outdoor seating area. I loved seeing Yayoi Kusama's infinity room here and the miniature rooms. I always make sure to check their calendar and come on "pay what you can Wednesday" so I don't have to pay full price. It can be a lot if you are bringing a few people on a regular day at $20 per person. It is a lovely museum but it's not too big so you probably won't really spend several hours here. I would still recommend seeing it at least once!

Another lovely day at the Phoenix Art Museum. Their latest installation is Mr. an Anime, Manga Artist. Beautiful and so vibrant. A must see while it's here. You won't be disappointed