Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum | October 4-Dember 7, 2025 | Tucson, AZ

Bountiful Blooms

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum showcases three decades of Dyana Hesson’s beautiful botanicals.

By Sarah Gianelli

Dyana Hesson has been painting larger-than-life florals for more than 30 years and, in recent years, has narrowed her focus to the native plants of her home state of Arizona. Now, Tucson’s Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is showcasing roughly 40 paintings that span the artist’s passion for the botanical beauty of the Southwest and beyond.

Arizona Cornucopia, Sacred Datura and Hackberry Emperor, Salt River, AZ, 2021, oil on canvas, 73 x 48 in. Collection of Thom and Katie Slack.

Wild Arizona: Native Arizona Plants and Places will be on view in the museum’s Ironwood Gallery from October 4 through December 7. An artist talk followed by a reception will take place on opening day from 1 to 4 p.m.

Hesson scouts her subjects on hikes, off-road Jeep adventures and restoration projects, chasing elusive blooms around the state with the seasons. Although she didn’t start out with conservation in mind she, like many who become more intimate with the natural world, began to think about the importance of protecting it. The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum recognizes art’s capacity to advance conservation efforts. Jennifer Lindquist, curator of the museum’s Art Institute, says, “Dyana Hesson exemplifies the important role artists play in conservation by creating emotional and visual connections to the natural world that inspire a desire to protect it. Her vivid, detailed botanical paintings highlight Arizona’s native plants and landscapes, allowing viewers to experience the beauty of these often-overlooked characters of the desert ecosystem. Her paintings inspire a deep appreciation for the resilience and uniqueness of Arizona’s flora, sparking curiosity and instilling a sense of responsibility for its preservation.” —