A lifetime of working with art and space
James Ratliff has been a trusted name in fine art and art placement for more than five decades. From opening the first gallery on Main Street in Scottsdale in the 1960s to establishing the long-standing James Ratliff Gallery in Sedona, Jim has devoted his life to connecting people with exceptional, original art.
For over 40 years in Sedona, Jim has worked with collectors, artists, and institutions, earning a reputation for discerning quality and thoughtful curation. He has represented and sold works by internationally recognized artists including Alexander Calder, Georgia O’Keeffe, Fritz Scholder, Rufino Tamayo, and others, always guided by a commitment to originality and craftsmanship.
Beyond the gallery walls, Jim is widely respected for his expertise in art consultation and placement—helping collectors discover not just the right artwork, but the right place for it. His consultative approach considers space, light, architecture, and personal meaning, often revealing possibilities people have never imagined.
Jim’s late wife, Patricia Ratliff, was an accomplished musician, educator, and artist whose creative spirit helped shape the gallery for many years. Today, Jim is joined by his wife Marlene, a highly accomplished musician whose trained ear and artistic perspective bring a refined sensibility to the work. As a key collaborator and guiding presence, Marlene Rausch plays an essential role in deepening relationships, and carrying the vision forward. Together, they continue a tradition of thoughtful guidance, personal service, and deep respect for both the art and the people who live with it.
For decades, I’ve worked with artists, collectors, and homeowners to help art find its place. Through gallery work, private advisory, and hands-on placement, I’ve learned that the right decision is rarely about trends or rules — it’s about how a space feels once you’re living with it.
My approach is grounded in experience, observation, and conversation. I pay attention to light, scale, and architecture, but just as importantly, to how people move through their homes and what they want to feel when they do.
The goal is not to impress — it’s to create spaces that feel settled, cohesive, and genuinely complete.
The way I work
I don’t follow a fixed formula. Each project begins with listening and unfolds naturally from there.
Listen carefully
Understand the space
Understand the person living in it
Explore possibilities
Place with intention
Not a method. A conversation.
On placement and feeling
Good placement is as much about restraint as it is about vision. Art should feel at ease within a space — connected to its surroundings, comfortable in its scale, and natural in its presence.
When placement is right, decisions feel calmer. Rooms feel coherent. And the art becomes part of daily life rather than something to be evaluated or explained.
That sense of ease is what I work toward in every home.
In their words
[Testimonials go here]
If this approach resonates with you, I’d be glad to talk things through.