09/05/2026
Over the years one of the pleasures in my life has been visiting Tucson, Arizona and Terry Etherton’s gallery. His contributions to the art world and in particular exhibiting fine photography, has been a bright spot and so important. He has had to move his gallery a few times and now he will be moving again-a smaller space but no less important. Thank you Terry for your special gift. You have been an inspiration to me and will continue to be. My photographs of Terry included here. Etherton Gallery The Photographer’s Eye Collective
Here’s his recent newsletter:
In 2021, after many years in the Odd Fellows Hall, we were excited to begin a new chapter in Tucson’s Barrio Viejo neighborhood. We believed we had found our home on South Convent Avenue for years to come. When our lease came up for renewal, Bacon Industries, Inc. declined to renew it. Despite repeated efforts to negotiate an extension, we were unable to reach an agreement and must vacate the building on December 31, 2026.
This is not the ending I had hoped for, but I am proud of what Etherton Gallery has accomplished, and this bewildering turn does not define the legacy we have built over the last 46 years.
Opening Etherton Gallery changed the course of my life in ways I could never have imagined. From the beginning, I wanted to create a space where people could discover extraordinary photography, meet important artists, and experience the kind of gallery I hoped could help establish Tucson as a destination for photography and the arts.
Over time, my original vision for the gallery has evolved into a commitment to Barrio Viejo. It has been deeply rewarding to work with our neighbors to help build it into one of Tucson’s most vibrant cultural destinations. We have shared our audience, artists, collectors, experience, tourists, and national press with the neighborhood and encouraged businesses to relocate. We recently learned that our good friend and neighbor, Mark Bahti, owner of Bahti Indian Arts, has also been notified by Bacon Industries, Inc. that his lease will not be renewed beyond 2027. He plans to close next June and hopes to reopen in the fall of 2027—not too far from his present location. Established by Mark’s father, Tom, Bahti Indian Arts has been in business for 77 years. It troubles me that the momentum we have worked so hard to build will be jeopardized by the departure of two important businesses. This is another huge disruption to Barrio Viejo and a blow to Tucson’s reputation as a city that supports the arts.
I am especially proud to have been part of the community of photography dealers who contributed to the development of the modern market for photography and expanded its audience among collectors and institutions. I am also proud of my service to AIPAD, which established the professional standards for our field. It has been a privilege to represent many of photography's most important practitioners and place their work in the world's leading public, corporate, and private collections. I have worked with brilliant artists and photographers, remarkable collectors, insightful museum curators, dedicated colleagues, and lifelong friends. For that, I will always be grateful.
Many people have helped bring Etherton Gallery’s exhibitions to life over the years -- whether we were in Tucson, New York or Paris. We are indebted to the framers, art handlers, installers, shippers, crate builders, craftsmen, members of the press, architects, musicians, DJs, caterers, bartenders, and countless others who transformed our exhibitions and openings into memorable occasions. Thank you for sharing your talents with us over the years.
None of this would have been possible without you. Whether you purchased your first photograph or painting, attended an opening, entrusted us with your collection, recommended the gallery to a friend, or simply spent an afternoon with the work, you became part of the Etherton Gallery story.
Although this chapter in Etherton Gallery’s story is drawing to a close, we have found a new space in Barrio Viejo and will reopen on a smaller scale in early 2027. I look forward to sharing more about our plans in the months ahead.
With gratitude,
Terry Etherton
