UP CLOSE GALLERY
LOCATED AT
PHOENIX FILM REVIVAL
A welcoming exhibition space inside Phoenix Film Revival
Up Close Gallery is a photo gallery inside the Phoenix Film Revival studio, an intimate, community driven space where both analog and digital photography are celebrated. Located on Grand Avenue, the gallery serves as a natural third space for the Phoenix film photography community: part creative hub, part gathering place, and always a welcoming spot to view meaningful photographic work.
The name Up Close reflects our approach. Photography deserves attention, connection, and a chance to be experienced slowly and intentionally.
Our Mission
Up Close Gallery was created to uplift photographers at every stage of their journey and to give our community a place to gather around thoughtful image making. While Phoenix Film Revival is deeply rooted in analog processes, the gallery embraces work from both film and digital photographers, as long as it is intentional, personal, and crafted with care.
Our mission is also shaped by the gallery’s own history.
Where Up Close Began
Before the gallery existed physically within PFR, Up Close began as a special exhibition titled Up Close Show: A Personal Evening with the Film Community. Originally presented in 2016, it brought together eight photographers from different backgrounds, artists Daniel connected with early in his own film photography journey.
Each photographer exhibited a single image accompanied by a brief Q and A, sharing their relationship with film and their creative process. To honor the artists, Daniel created two portraits of each participant: a traditional headshot and a portrait of their favorite film camera. These were displayed on custom built installations made from reclaimed floorboards, enlarger lenses, oversized bolts, and heavy industrial hardware, an aesthetic that echoed the tactile nature of analog photography.
Warm Edison bulbs illuminated each piece, arranged along a single gallery wall to create an intimate, immersive experience. The show encouraged visitors to slow down, engage deeply, and feel connected not only to the work but to the artists behind it.
The exhibition was named one of the top free art events by the Phoenix New Times, marking its significance within the local arts scene and planting the seeds for what Up Close Gallery would eventually become: a space dedicated to community, craft, storytelling, and the shared love of photography.
Today, That Spirit Continues
Building on that foundation, our mission today is to:
Support and elevate photographers from all backgrounds
Show work that feels personal, honest, and engaging
Create opportunities for artists to share their stories
Offer a relaxed, welcoming space for conversation, inspiration, and connection
Keep the heart of the Phoenix film community at the center of everything we do
Up Close Gallery is not just a place to hang photos. It is a place to gather, learn, and be part of something larger.
Exhibitions and Events
We host rotating shows throughout the year, including:
Solo exhibitions
Group and themed shows
Community anthologies and collaborative projects
Film and digital visual storytelling
First Friday receptions and special events
Because the gallery lives inside a working darkroom studio, exhibitions often blend naturally with the activity and energy of PFR, workshops, open labs, conversations about cameras, and people simply making art.
Showing Your Work
We regularly open calls for art and welcome submissions from photographers of all experience levels. Each exhibition has a theme or focus, and details are announced on our Instagram and Substack.
If you are creating work that feels meaningful to you, we want to see it. Up Close Gallery thrives on variety, authenticity, and the diverse perspectives of our community.
A Gallery That Feels Like Home
One of the things people love most about Up Close Gallery is its atmosphere. Because it is part of the Phoenix Film Revival studio, it naturally feels warm, grounded, and lived in. You might overhear someone talking about their latest roll of film or see into the darkroom, the spot where all the magic comes to life, which we often share with visitors during events.
It is a gallery that does not separate art from process or people from community. For many, it has become a true third space: not home, not work, just a place to belong.
Visit Us
Up Close Gallery is open for:
First Fridays
Exhibition openings
Special events and scheduled viewing hours
Follow us on Instagram or subscribe to our Substack newsletter to stay current on shows, opportunities, and visiting hours.
Experience Photography Up Close
Whether you are stopping by to see a show, submitting your own work, or simply hanging out with fellow creatives, Up Close Gallery offers a relaxed space to connect with photography in a meaningful way.