A rusty metal gate adorned with tin can flowers welcomes visitors to the beautiful Gallery in the Sun, located at 6300 N. Swan Rd.

Since the gallery opened in 1965, thousands of people have come to see the unique works of Ettore "Ted" DeGrazia.

Inspired by native culture and the elements of the Southwest, DeGrazia’s early works were published in Arizona Highways magazine. He later partnered with muralists Diego Rivera and
Jose Clemente Orozco to present his first solo exhibition at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in 1942.

DeGrazia's most recognized pieces are those of “Los Ninos,” a collection depicting wide-eyed Native American children, which were printed on United Nation Children's Fund (UNICEF) greeting cards in the 50s and 60s.

Gallery in the Sun houses six permanent collections of paintings that mark historical events and native cultures of the Southwest. Some 15,000 of DeGrazia's works are in rotating exhibitions at the gallery. The collections at the gallery include watercolors and oil paintings, as well as sketches, lithographs, ceramics and sculptures.

Also housed at Gallery in the Sun are some works by DeGrazia’s wife, Marion S. DeGrazia. The gallery began displaying her works last year as part of the “M Collection,” and still has some hanging in the main gallery.

A collection of Ted DeGrazia’s works, called "The Way of the Cross," was shown in conjunction with Lent. From February 6 until May 11, visitors viewed the 15 original paintings that depict Christ’s suffering and crucifixion.

The crucifixion paintings were created in 1964 when a local reverend asked DeGrazia to paint Stations of the Cross for the Newman Catholic Student Center near the University of Arizona. De Grazia replaced the originals in the chapel with reproductions for insurance and environmental purposes.

Gallery in the Sun will feature a new exhibition starting March 28. The “Todos Mexicanos” exhibit will feature over 50 black and white sketches of daily life in Mexico, as witnessed by DeGrazia on his many trips there. These drawings feature recurring characters, such as merchants, mariachis, farmers and children. The opening reception will be from 6pm to 8pm in the main gallery and the exhibit will last until September 8.