Visitors can see Oklahoma Contemporary exhibitions, explore facilities for free

Oklahoma Contemporary will continue providing extensive digital programming, including online arts education, while also utilizing its extensive outdoor spaces to bring Oklahomans together for concerts, interactive sculptures and more

After a five-month delay due to COVID-19 closures across the country, Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, the region’s leading space for contemporary art education and exhibitions, has opened the doors to its new home in downtown Oklahoma City. The new building, originally scheduled to open in March 2020, was designed by architect Rand Elliott to reflect and pay homage to Oklahoma’s famed big skies and ever-changing light. 

While this is the first time that Oklahoma Contemporary has welcomed visitors into its new home, the institution remained active and engaged the public digitally throughout the closure, with an ambitious slate of virtual programming including readings, studio visits, artist talks, gallery tours and more. 

“We are thrilled to welcome our community into our stunning new building,” said Executive Director Eddie Walker. “The building itself is an incredible architectural achievement and has allowed our exhibitions programming to grow in new and ambitious ways. I am also so proud of our staff and our amazing art educators, who persisted in providing Oklahomans with top-notch arts experiences throughout the worst days of the pandemic. Together, we can make experiencing contemporary art a safe, valuable and fun experience.”

Exhibitions and visitor safety 
The inaugural exhibition at the new Oklahoma Contemporary is Bright Golden Haze. The exhibition -- named in reference to the first line in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s iconic musical Oklahoma! -- presents a diverse range of artworks from nationally and internationally acclaimed contemporary artists who use light to create a specific sense of place, utilizing the new building’s expanded gallery space to exhibit significant, large-scale works. Featuring works by leading artists including Teresita Fernandez, Robert Irwin, Tavares Strachan and Leo Villareal, the exhibition’s theme refers both to the storied quality of light and space in Oklahoma and the unique role of light in shaping environment and identity in contemporary art globally.

11 NW 11th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73103
Phone: 405 951 0000
Fax: 405 951 0003
info@okcontemp.org

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