Upcoming ExhibitOpening October 9, 2026
Manabu Saito: Cacti
Zen Gallery
Manabu Saito’s relationship with the Sonoran Desert spanned decades and played a role in his decision to leave industrial design behind for a career in art. Following a visit to Arizona in the late 1960s during which he painted the garden of a local cactus collector, renowned bird painter Don R. Eckelberry saw those works and urged Saito to devote himself to painting full-time. By 1973, eight of Saito’s cactus portraits had appeared in Audubon Magazine, and the following year his illustrations were published in the book A Golden Guide: Cacti.
Manabu Saito: Cacti is a nod to the beginnings of Manabu’s career as a professional artist and the place he ultimately made his home. The watercolors featured in this exhibition were created over several decades, some painted here at Tucson Botanical Gardens.
The exhibit also features a videotaped interview with Saito, as well as artifacts from his studio and home.
