From explorations of our shared history or the natural world to captivating new works of art – such as Fahamu Pecou’s “Broken Open,” a centerpiece of 21c Museum Hotel’s new exhibition Pop Stars – the metro’s collection of art galleries and museums should have multiple entries on your “must visit” list over the next few months.
21c Museum Hotel
900 W Main, OKC, 405.982.6900
Through Feb. 2019 Pop Stars! Popular Culture and Contemporary Art
This exhibition explores the imagery of manufactured fantasy in a multi-media exploration of popular culture today. Stars of stage, screen and sport are re-envisioned.
May 18 Smash His Camera
Following the life of Ron Galella, who one fan calls “the pope of paparazzi,” but who created a body of work that is historically irreplaceable.
June 15 Filmography: deadCenter Best of the Fest – Shorts Edition
A special free screening of some of deadCenter’s favorite short films from 2018.
Aug. 17 The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby
The collective title of three films capturing the complete picture of a relationship as they try to understand each other in the wake of a tragedy.
21c is also the AR and VR venue for deadCenter Film Festival on June 7-10.
American Banjo Museum
9 E Sheridan, OKC, 405.604.2793
Opening May 15 Philadelphia’s Mummers
The musical stars of America’s oldest folk parade strut their exuberantly colorful stuff.
June 23 Americana Fest
A family-fun event with an impressive musical lineup. Oklahoma’s own Kyle Dillingham & Horseshoe Road will be joined by Shelby Eicher & Cimarron Swing.
Opening Sept. 1 Jim Henson – Life and Legacy
Exploring the Muppets’ creator and his inextricable connection of the banjo via Kermit the Frog, introducing the instrument to a mainstream audience.
Sept. 6-8 Banjo Fest
Three days of concerts, informal performances, parties, jams and other musical fun for all the family. Visitors can also experience the Hall of Fame Gala.
(Artspace) at Untitled
1 NE 3rd, OKC, 405.815.9995
May 10-June 7 David Crismon, Dislocated Histories
Featuring new work from prolific Oklahoma artist David Crismon, who uses an “old” process of painting to speak about “new” processes or technologies.
May 31 Short Film Screening
Local Shorts in collaboration with the OKC Film Society
June 9 City Sounds Jazz
Live Music
June 14-Aug. 18 Once Old is New
An exhibition of quilts by individual and groups of members of the OKC Modern Quilt Guild, which strives to inspire and educate the public on the art of modern quilting.
Sept. 13-Oct. 20 Janet O’Neal, One Thousand Tears
A multimedia exhibit and installation, including paintings, mixed media photography, large-scale sculptures and an installation of one thousand cast resin teardrops.
Chickasaw Cultural Center
867 Cooper Memorial, Sulphur, 580.622.7130
Through Sept. 2 Sculpting Cultures
This cross-cultural exhibit of Southeast and Southwest creations celebrates stylistic and cultural diversity within Native pottery-making.
Through Sept. 3 Te Ata Exhibition
Explore the life of Mary “Te Ata” Thompson Fisher and her journey to become one of the greatest Native American performers of all time.
May 12 Taloowa Music Fair
This outdoor music fair will be filled with a melodious mix of music genres within the beautiful Kochcha’ Aabiniili’ Amphitheater.
June 16 Native Creativity Day
A celebration of Native American artists showcasing a variety of creative mediums.
June 23 Children’s Festival
Experience fun activities and events for the whole family
July 14 Holba’ Pisachi’ Native Film Festival
Enjoy Native American documentaries, short films and feature films, as well as special presentations and interview-style panels with filmmakers and actors.
Sept. 15 Monarch Butterfly Watch
Enjoy Monarch films, outdoor classrooms, horticultural tours, children’s crafts and more.
City of Yukon
405.354.1895
May 5 Festival of the Child
Plenty of fun and creativity for children with more than 50 areas of activities, including crafts, storytelling, kayaking, moon bounces and a performing arts stage. City Park, 2200 S Holly
June 2 Chisholm Trail & Crawfish Festival
Celebrating the history and heritage of the Chisholm Trail Cajun-style with Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, crawfish racing and live Cajun music with dance lessons. Kirkpatrick Family Farm, 1001 Garth Brooks
July 4 Yukon’s Freedom Fest
All-day family friendly fun includes a children’s parade, craft tent, car show, pony rides and laser tag – and in the evening, music from Super Freak and the OKC Philharmonic. Chisholm Trail Park, 500 W Vandament
Aug. 30 Rock the Route
Bringing a rockin’ night of country music to Main Street, the day includes a free concert on Historic Route 66 with food trucks and kids’ activities.
Edmond Historical Society & Museum
431 S Boulevard, Edmond, 405.340.0078
Through May 12 Once Upon a Playground
A visual tribute to the vanishing playgrounds of our past, celebrating their place in American culture and the collective memories of generations.
Through May 12 Monkey Bars and Walking Trails
A tribute to the more than 100 years of Edmond’s parks, including the vision of the town founders along with the dedication of individuals.
July 5-Aug. 16 Fight, Give: American Relief Posters of WWII
The posters, photographs and artworks featured in this exhibit were created to raise awareness of the impact of World War II throughout the world.
Exhibit C Gallery
1 E Sheridan, Ste. 100, OKC, 405.767.8900
Through June 30 Transitions
Featuring graffiti-style artwork by artists Hoka Skenadore, Josh Johnico and Yatika Fields, who are making the transition from street art to fine art.
July 1-Oct 31 Perspectives
Featuring ten artists from each of the five tribes of the Mississippian culture, spanning traditional to contemporary, with a chance to meet the artists at a reception on July 21.
Fine Arts Institute of Edmond
27 E Edwards, Edmond, 405.340.4481
First Thursdays Artists’ Receptions Featuring Heather Porter May 3, Jason Wilson June 7, Marilyn Garvey July 5, Jennifer Jones Aug. 2, Diane Goldschmidt and Diana Robinson Sept. 6.
Fred Jones Jr. Mueseum of Art
555 Elm, Norman, 405.325.3272
Through May 13 104th Annual OU School of Visual Arts Student Exhibition
This competitive juried show is held each spring, and highlights the diverse works of art created by visual art students from OU.
Through May 27 Fine Print!
Rarely exhibited posters in the museum’s permanent collection that were produced between the fin-de-siècle French poster movement of the 1890s and the 1972 Olympics.
Through Sept. 2 Space Burial
In this installation by contemporary artist Jesse Small, slivers of the 86-foot diameter satellite dishes from the Very Large Array in New Mexico intersect the gallery space.
June 8-Sept. 9 Visual Voices: Contemporary Chickasaw Art
Thought-provoking and critical 2-D and 3-D works, including abstract and experimental contemporary Chickasaw art. A reception will be held June 7.
June 12-Dec. 30 Still Looking
The display offers a survey of Carol Beesley Hennagin’s photography collection, and includes photographs by established artists such as Edward Weston and Frederick Sommer.
June 17 Family Day
Explore the Visual Voices exhibition and enjoy stomp-dancing, storytelling and art projects presented by the Chickasaw Cultural Center.
Gaylord-Pickens Museum
1400 Classen Drive, OKC, 405.235.4458
May 28-Sept. 3 Summer Thursdays
Story time is followed by a craft and summer activities for families to enjoy together. Free admission.
May 31 – Sept. 22 IKBI Chickasaws and Choctaws
This unique art exhibition brings together multi-media works of art in 2D and 3D from the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations. Opening reception June 28.
Aug. 17: Oklahoma Born & Brewed
The 4th annual Oklahoma Born & Brewed will be filled with brews from Oklahoma craft brewers and small plate pairings.
The Howell Gallery
6432 N Western, OKC, 405.840.4437
May 12 Coffee with the Artists
Featuring Ginger Myers and Andre Tutak
June 6-30 Poteet Victory
One-man show with an opening reception for the artist June 6.
Aug. 18 Coffee with the Artist
Featuring Nancy Junkin
Sept. 27 Painting in the Courtyard
A gallery-wide event featuring artists working live during the show.
Individual Artists of Oklahoma
706 W Sheridan, OKC, 405.232.6060
Through May 12 ProtoProxy
An installation/exhibit by Jordan Vinyard alongside Sportopia: an exhibit by Paul Wadell
Aug. 24-Sept. 14 What Legacy Had Wrought
Printmaking/collage/installation exhibit by Summer Zah, alongside works on paper by Kayla Seedig
Sept. 21-Oct. 12 Chrome Chocolate
Group show featuring Adam Stewart, Jansen Sterba, Skip Hill, NGHBRS, thedirtyfabulous, Keegan O’keefe, Vivian Beethe, Sara Scribner, Eric Cabrey and others
JRB Art at the Elms
2810 N Walker, OKC, 405.528.6336
May 4-28 Quartet Exhibition
The work of abstract painter Beth Hammack, mixed media artist Kathy Rodgers, ceramicist Gayle Singer and NYC jeweler Janet Talvacchia will be on display.
June 1-July 1 Best of the West
Artists to be featured are abstract artist Gregory Gummersall, photographer Jenny Gummersall, and fiber artist Pam Husky. Best of the West Brunch will be held on June 10.
July 6-July 29 Duo Exhibition
Featuring the work of NYC photographer Catherine Adams and local installation artist Ginna Dowling.
Aug. 3-Sept. 3 Trio Exhibition
Three new shows featuring figurative sculptor Sohail Shehada, Dallas painter/sculptor Heather Gorham and sculptural artist Christie Hackler.
National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum
1700 NE 63rd, OKC, 405.478.2250
Through Nov. 11 In the Principles Office
Step into the classroom with artist Tom Ryan as he takes “General Illustration” with teacher Frank Reilly. Learn the principles of art as he did in this scientific and systematic approach.
Aug. 31-Jan. 2019 American Indian Painting: 20th–Century Masters Explore early artists such as the Kiowa Six, Tonita Peña and Harrison Begay, and the institutions that influenced them.
Oklahoma City Museum of Art
415 Couch, OKC, 405.236.3100
Through June 10 The Serenity of Madness
An exhibition involving short films and video installations by Thai independent filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul.
May 2 James C. Meade Friends’ Lecture
Jean Reed Roberts and Deedee Wigmore host a panel discussion on “The Washington Color Painters and the Legacy of Paul Reed.”
May 3-May 31 Strange Creatures
The feature films of Apichatpong Weerasethakul on consecutive Thursdays in May
June 16-Sept. 9 Fashioning Art from Paper
Featuring the life-size, trompe l’œil paper costumes of Belgian artist Isabelle de Borchgrave, including four major paper fashion collections.
Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum
620 N Harvey, OKC, 405.235.3313
May 13 Mother’s Day
Free admission to the Memorial Museum for moms with another paid admission.
June 17 Father’s Day
Dads receive free admission to the Memorial Museum with another paid admission.
Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center
3000 General Pershing, OKC, 405.951.0000
May 3-13 Images of Community
Working with students from Rose State Community College’s art history program to curate an exhibition of photos sourced from their communities.
Opening May 19 The Experimental Geography Studio
In collaboration with OU professor Nicholas Bauch and his Digital Geo-Humanities class, this exhibition combines new media art with scholarship in geography.
June 1-Aug. 12 Sojourning
A solo exhibition of fiber installations by Chiyoko Myose, a Japanese artist who has been living in Wichita for the past 20 years, it expresses her experiences of living in a foreign country.
June 14-16 and 21-23 Honey
OK Contemporary is partnering with Fresh Paint for the world premiere of this interdisciplinary performance piece, inspired by narratives of desire and intimate moments between strangers.
June 16 The Art of Brunch
Featuring a chef-curated menu, bottomless mimosas, live art-making and a VIP tour of surrounding artworks. Sale proceeds ensure that exhibitions can be offered free of charge.
Oklahoma History Center
800 Nazih Zuhdi, OKC, 405.521.2491
Opening July 12 Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!”
Featuring 21 images including full-color posters, to celebrate 75 years since the musical opened on Broadway.
Through Nov. 2019 Welcome Home
The stories of native Oklahomans who fought in the Vietnam War intertwine with the stories of Vietnamese refugees who have settled in Oklahoma City.
Permanent Exhibits American Indian Exhibit, Crossroads of Commerce, Oil & Gas/Energy, Land Run/Pioneer Days, Military, Steamboat Heroine
Oklahoma Railway Museum
3400 NE Grand, OKC, 405.424.8222
1st and 3rd Saturdays through Aug. Train Rides Rides on the museum’s historic MKT mainline – all aboard passenger coaches pulled by vintage diesel locomotives.
Red Earth
6 Santa Fe Plaza, OKC, 405.427.5228
June 8-10 Red Earth Festival
Three packed days of art and events celebrating Oklahoma’s diverse Native heritage, this event includes a huge parade on June 8 and powwow with hundreds of tribal dancers.
Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
2401 Chautauqua, Norman, 405.325.4712
May 26-Jan. 6 The Largest Shark that Ever Lived
Though Megalodon vanished millions of years ago, its fascinating story inspires lessons for science and shark conservation; featuring a 60-foot-long walk-through sculpture.
June 9-Oct. 12 Putting Baskets to Work in Southwest China
The photographs and baskets featured in this exhibit were gathered between 2013 and 2015 in Yunnan, Guangxi, and Guizhou provinces.
June-Aug Free Summer Film Series
Showing Finding Nemo, Finding Dory and Moana
Science Museum Oklahoma
2020 Remington, OKC, 405.602.6664
Through Aug. 12 Decomposition: Discovering the Beauty and Magnificence of Fungi
Explore the science and artistry of the fungal kingdom and discover how these remarkable organisms shape our planet.
Through Jan. 13, 2019 Into the Fold: The Art and Science of Origami
See the work of 30 origami artists from around the state, nation and world, including many of the foremost origami artists of today.
Every Tuesday SMO Storytime Science
Kids six and under read a story and follow it up with a fun, scientific activity.
June 22 and Aug. 17 SMO 21
Join Science Museum Oklahoma for a night at the museum, for ages 21 and over only. Each event features a different theme.