Oklahoma City loves the arts. In fact, if you’re in town as you read this, odds are good you’re just a hop and a skip from a local arts district, gallery, museum or piece of public art. A slew of restaurants, food halls and other unexpected spaces have become unofficial galleries, too, all with art you can buy – sometimes right off the wall. The truth of the matter is, the hardest thing about shopping for art in OKC is narrowing down your choices!
Thanks to Fokal, an OKC-based start-up company whose aim is to empower artists and connect them with unconventional ‘gallery’ spaces and audiences interested in buying art, our city is dotted with businesses whose walls are art galleries. A great example is The Collective Kitchens + Cocktails which, because of Fokal, is now a celebration of the culinary arts (nine pop-up style kitchens plus a great big bar) and the visual arts. The Collective was interested in offering curated art exhibitions, and reached out to the folks at Fokal, who made the process seamless. Each piece of art has a QR code, making it simple and fun to buy what you love right on the spot. Download the Fokal app and see art across the city that’s available for purchase.
This vibrant connection between art and community is also beautifully showcased in the Paseo Arts District, a haven for creativity and culture that invites exploration and discovery at every turn. The Paseo Arts District is a collection of more than 20 galleries representing 80+ artists scattered along a historic, winding street filled with restaurants, a vegan donut shop, a local-fave shoe boutique, clothing shops, a theatre, gift shops, a yoga studio and…did I mention the art? From ceramics to paintings and sculpture to fiber art, it’s all waiting for you in the Paseo. Each month, on the first Friday, the district hosts its First Friday Gallery Walk from 6-9 p.m., rain or shine.
Although JRB Art at the Elms is technically part of the Paseo Arts District, it warrants a little extra attention for its history and for being an anchor gallery in the area. Since its founding, JRB Art at the Elms has become a hub for showcasing works from emerging and established artists, specializing in eclectic exhibitions, offering a range of mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography and installation art. The gallery is housed in a charming historic building known as "The Elms," which dates back to the early 1920s.
Another walkable arts mecca in OKC? Downtown and Midtown. There are multiple art exhibits each year in the Crystal Bridge Conservatory’s lobby, with most of the art available for purchase. Bonus: the Crystal Bridge Conservatory is a work of art in and of itself, as are the Myriad Botanical Gardens grounds which surround it. Walk a few blocks north on Walker Ave., and you’ll find the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. World-class exhibitions are regularly staged, and guests will also find ever-changing selections from the museum’s permanent collection on view. While these works are not for sale, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art Store is filled with artful and art-centric gifts, decorative arts, jewelry and more, much of it artist-created.
One of OKC’s foundational art galleries, 50 Penn Place Gallery, is owned and operated by a group of fine artists. Exhibitions are curated every two months. During each of the gallery’s art openings, a piece of artwork from the featured artist is given away to someone in attendance. Howell Gallery is another well-established OKC institution. Established in 1991, Howell Gallery is home to nationally and regionally recognized artists, and up and coming, emerging artists.
North Gallery & Studios, an award-winning gallery inside north OKC’s North Park Mall, is known for its dedication to showcasing Oklahoma artists. Mycelium Gallery, a newer addition to our vibrant arts landscape, is a woman-owned art space which, in addition to its exhibitions, fosters the arts community with its Artist Closet initiative providing free art supplies to the community.
Discover more art destinations in OKC and kickstart your art-collecting journey with the Fokal app.