Ambassador Event: Perspectives of Greater Phoenix

How local art and collaboration are shaping community and identity in Greater Phoenix

The rich diversity, creativity and lived experiences of Arizona were on display during the Greater Phoenix Economic Council’s opening reception for its new rotating art exhibit, Perspectives of Greater Phoenix. The event welcomed local artists, business leaders and community members to engage in a conversation about how art deepens our sense of place and strengthens the connection between people and the places they live, work and move through.

The evening featured a panel discussion with three local leaders working at the intersection of art, infrastructure and regional identity:

• Allison Van Dyke, Vice President of Marketing for Goodmans
• Haley Hinds, Art Curator, Phoenix Sky Harbor Museum,
• Quinn Murphy, Muralist and Owner of Hamster Labs
• Stefanie Carson, Art Director, Greater Phoenix Economic Council (Moderator)

Together, they offered insights into how organizations and businesses can create space for artists and why doing so is vital to the region’s future.

“It’s not just about having a great place for business or good incentives,” Carson said. “It’s really the arts, the culture, the lifestyle that helps people build a life and create a sense of place.”

Transforming unexpected spaces

Hinds shared the origin and evolution of the Phoenix Airport Museum, one of the largest airport art programs in the U.S. The museum, which launched in the 1960s with a single mural commission, now hosts over 40 rotating exhibitions, large-scale installations and borrowed works from local artists throughout Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

“The way that people engage with art at the airport is much different than in a traditional space,” Hinds said. “It can really make an impact if you’re not expecting it.”

Sky Harbor sees more than 52 million travelers a year, many experiencing high emotion or transition. Hinds emphasized how art can offer calm, curiosity or even comfort during difficult travel moments, creating a more human experience for visitors passing through Greater Phoenix.

“A lot of people ask me where the museum is at the airport,” Hinds said. “Basically, you can think of the whole airport as a museum.”

Creating with purpose

In a project aimed at raising autism awareness and celebrating Phoenix’s rank as the most autism-friendly city, Goodmans commissioned a mural led by Murphy with collaboration from fellow local artist Jake Early. This piece of art is on the exterior of Goodmans’ building, which is located across the street from the Arizona Autism Charter School.

Murphy, who founded Phoenix-based print shop Hamster Labs, discussed his approach to the creative process behind the bold, imaginative mural.

“It’s a serious message about awareness, but we wanted to do it in a fun and approachable way,” Murphy said. “It was about creating something joyful that people can interpret in their own way.”

The mural features subtle references to autism, including an off-centered eye to reflect difficulty with eye contact, bright LEGO-inspired visuals to engage children and a bold superhero-style font that frames autism as a superpower rather than a limitation.

“We wanted children to love it, we wanted adults to love it, we wanted the community to love it,” said Van Dyke, who was Goodman’s lead on the project. “When it went up, traffic just stopped. People were getting out of their cars to take pictures.”

Business as a canvas for community

The inception of GPEC’s rotating exhibits was in 2018, when a remodel left the office with an expansive space of plain white walls. Rather than filling the space with traditional corporate decor, the team saw an opportunity to elevate local artists. That execution inspired Goodmans to take a similar approach, transforming their remodeled showroom into a gallery space that showcases Greater Phoenix’s talent.

“Art brought a new spirit to the space,” Van Dyke said. “It added another layer of beauty and made the space feel alive.”

She also emphasized how showcasing authentic, creative expression can add depth and personality to a brand, “giving a business a soul.”

The collaboration between Goodmans, Murphy, Early and other local artists was a shared effort to transform the office space into something more vibrant and reflective of the community. Murphy encouraged attendees at GPEC’s exhibit opening to engage with public art by paying attention to their surroundings and taking the initiative to learn more.

“If you see something on a wall you love, walk into the business and ask who did it,” he said. “Social media and platforms like Street Art Cities are great starting points.”

A platform for collective expression

As the region grows, so does the opportunity to embed arts and culture into the everyday experience of living in Greater Phoenix. GPEC is committed to supporting initiatives like Street Art Cities, which documents public art and connects artists to future opportunities, including new commissions.

Whether in showrooms, airports or unexpected corners of the city, public art gives the region a voice and reflects the values of the people who shape it.

“We know companies care about workforce,” Carson said. “But what keeps talent here is culture. It’s community. And art is at the center of that.”