DeGrazia received worldwide acclaim during his lifetime career for his colorful paintings of native cultures in the Sonoran desert. Using traditional adobe bricks crafted on-site, DeGrazia built the Gallery in the Sun in 1965 to exhibit his originals in a museum setting. Perhaps best known for his oil painting Los Niños that was the UNICEF greeting card in 1960, the prolific artist also created watercolors, ceramics, sculptures, stained glass, jewelry, lithographs and serigraphs.

The adjoining Mission in the Sun was built by the artist in 1952 in honor of Father Kino and dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, patron saint of Mexico. With its rustic rock floors, open-air ceiling and DeGrazia murals, the mission is a beloved sanctuary for visitors year-round. Next to the mission are the artist's former home, his gravesite, and the Little Gallery that hosts visiting artists during the winter months.