Originally established as a custom frame shop by Jane and Ivan Rosequist in 1946, the gallery grew over the next twenty years into one of the most important in Arizona and the American West.
Jane's sister Priscilla was married to noted artist Gerry Peirce and encouraged the couple to move to Tucson, Arizona.
[4] Jane Rosequist reminiscing on the opening said, “There were dirt floors and an outside privy then” The small firm created and manufactured original molding and frames.
[5] By Summer 1951 the frame shop began selling fine prints,[6] created by artists including, Utrillo, Cézanne, and Picasso.
[9] By November the gallery acquired two large N.C. Wyeth originals which became the base for an exhibit of the best of western art and sculpture from the “old west” which was shown both in Phoenix and Tucson.
They represented and promoted Paul Dyck in America, Ross Stefan, sculptor Ruth Pierce and Robert Hartman.
Their shows featured works by French artists Philippe Auge and Pierre Sicard, Germany's Max Gunther, Mexico's Francisco Zúñiga, and China's Chen Chi.
Perhaps the time has come for me to complete the full cycle and finally start caring a torch for the underdog.”[18] Ivan Rosequist died in Taos, New Mexico on February 12, 1985.