Today, the city and surrounding area, located directly between New York and Los Angeles, is home to more than 1.2 million people. The state itself boasts more than 300 sunny days each year, has more man-made lakes than any other state, and celebrates the honey bee and mistletoe as state emblems. Red dirt covers much of the land, due to the sand, siltstone and shale in the ground.

Oklahoma City is home to many museums suited to a wide range of interests, and has a number of green spaces around the city perfect for enjoying all those sunshine-filled days.

ART GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS

• Welcoming more than 130,000 visitors from around the world each year, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art was incorporated in 1945 and is today an amalgamation of two artistic venues: the Oklahoma Art Center and the Oklahoma Museum of Art. Continuing along the path of its predecessors, the museum's collection is comprised of paintings, sculpture, photography and prints with an emphasis on European and American 19th and 20th century artists.

  Among the names represented are Georgia O'Keeffe, Gustave Courbet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Henry Moore. The museum has had many donations of collections over the years as well, including the Dorothy and Herbert Vogel Collection: 50 Gifts for 50 States.

• Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center was formed in 1989, to serve as a non-profit middleman providing the city with high quality art programs and education. In addition to exhibitions, the center offers adult art classes, workshops, children's camps, lectures, and film screenings. Depending on the nature of the touring exhibits they host, the art may expand outside the center itself, into surrounding neighborhoods and outdoor spaces.

• Located in what was the local jazz community in the 1920s and 30s, Artspace at Untitled is housed in an old warehouse and serves as an exhibition space and non-profit arts organization. The gallery focuses on installation, conceptual, and experimental art, and brings in work by artists from around the United States and the world.

• a.k.a. gallery
• The Howell Gallery
• JRB Art at the Elms
• Kasum Contemporary Fine Art
• The Paseo Arts District
• Contemporary Art Gallery
• American Banjo Museum
• Museum of Osteology
• World Organization of China Painters Museum
• National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
• 99s Museum of Women Pilots
• Oklahoma History Center

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

ARTISTIC INSTITUTIONS

• The School of Arts at Oklahoma City University offers artistic students four year programs in studio art and photography, as well as film studies and film production. The university provides Master's programs as well, in creative writing, screen writing, and music. With over 70 undergraduate offerings in total, the institution is home to almost 4,000 students and has graduated a number of notable theatre actors including Kristin Chenowith, Stacey Logan, Lara Teeter, and Kelli O'Hara.

• With a wide range of artistic degree programs, the College of Fine Arts and Design at the University of Central Oklahoma is a good choice for those wishing to pursue artistic endeavors. Studio art majors and study ceramics, metalworking, sculpture, painting, photography, or drawing. Those interested in the design aspect can earn a BFA in graphic or interior design, and go on to claim a related Masters degree.

  The university was founded in 1890 and is located in Edmond, which lies just north east of Oklahoma City. It offers seven separate colleges and more than 100 degree programs, and is rated highly among American universities.

• The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma offers two degree programs for the artistically inclined. Students can choose from a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a focus in painting, sculpture, drawing, printmaking, ceramics, photography, or graphic design. Established in 1908, the institution offers bachelor degrees in 22 concentrations and enrols only 900 students. The school began as a women's only college and remained as such until 1965.

• At the Fine Arts Institute of Edmond, kids can take theatre and painting classes while their parents study pottery, jewelry making, or painting.

• Take a wide variety of courses on promoting yourself as an artist, and apply for fellowships and scholarships at the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition.

• Within the Paseo School of Arts, interested parties can enroll in unique classes like sun painting silk scarves, working with Encaustic, and leather mask making.

• Adults and children alike can explore their passions for painting with classes at Paseo Gallery One.

• Paseo Pottery offers clay sculpting classes for all ages and experience levels.

• Take a class in jewelry making focused on precious metal clay, soldering, wax works, and weaving techniques at Jeweler's Art in the Paseo Arts District.

NATIVE ARTISTS

There are plenty of artistic people originally from, or currently living in Oklahoma!

• Singing cowboy Gene Autry spent much of his life in the Sooner State.

• Joe Andoe is a painter and author whose work has been shown in The Whitney and other prestigious galleries around the country.

• Known for her hyperrealism techniques largely practised on still lifes of flowers and table settings, Carolyn Brady (1937-2005) attended the University of Oklahoma.

• William Bernhardt is the author of the popular Ben Kincaid mystery series.

• Another artist known for photorealism in his large-scale still life paintings, Charles Bell was a self-taught artist born and raised in Tulsa.

• Actors Kristin Chenowith, James Garner, Megan Mullaly, James Marsden, and Brad Pitt.

ART AND CULTURAL EVENTS

Annual Events

• Since 1976, the Paseo Arts Festival has drawn audiences to the Paleo Arts District for a Memorial Day weekend celebration. Running over three days, the event presents more that 80 artists exhibiting and selling their work in various media, from painting and photography to wood and jewelry pieces.

  Musical guests and other live performances entertain on two stages, and all kinds of food is available from the trucks and stands that flank the area. Galleries take part by hosting special exhibits and amending their hours to match the event.

• Combining the visual, performing and culinary arts, the Festival of the Arts was established in 1967 and runs for one week in April, offering free admission to its many guests. There are children's activities and a kids-only art shopping section in addition to nearly 150 visual artists who work in paint, glass, clay, leather, and more. Thirty-some food vendors exhibit their own brand of art, and hundreds of performers take to the stage to showcase their talents.

Other Events and Sights to See

• Wander the 17 acres of the Myriad Botanical Gardens and visit the conservatory for an interactive learning experience.

• Lake Hefner is rated one of the top 10 inland sailing spots in the world. Hop a boat and ride the waves.

• Catch a game at the Chesapeake Energy Arena, home of the NBAs Oklahoma City Thunder.

• A Route 66 landmark, the Gold Dome was originally home to the Citizens State Bank.

• At the Oklahoma City Zoo, say hello to a rhinoceros, bat-eared foxes, gorillas, and eagles.

• Hop on one of more than fifty rides offered at the western-themed amusement park Frontier City.

• The Oklahoma History Center is located next to the Governor's mansion, and features five galleries as well as outdoor exhibits.

• For more ideas of what to see and do in Oklahoma City, visit their tourism website.

• Prints on Canvas Your digital files, printed on canvas and Gallery wrapped around wooden frames. Frames, canvas floaters available.
• Fine Art Prints Your personal and professional art immortalized on your choice of high quality art and photographic papers.
• Custom Picture Frames Order the exact frame you need, along with mats, plexiglass and backing, fitting also available.
• Plaque Mounting Permanent, glass-free signs and art for your business and home. Easy to hang and built to last.
• Handmade Oil Paintings Add a special touch to your favourite image by having it hand painted by one of our talented artists.
• Digital Image Effects Our qualified and artistic graphic designer can tweak and twinkle your image with sepia, pop art and more.
• Photo Mosaics Create a dynamic, interesting art piece that lets you showcase multiple images while celebrating your favorite one.
• Photo Collages Display a collection of wedding or baby photos with a custom-designed collage, laid out by our talented designer.
• Resin Coating Cover your canvas or artwork with a clear, high shine coating that will protect your art and create a glass-like effect.
• Classical Art Prints Choose from our wide selection of famous artists. Now a Van Gogh or Monet canvas is more affordable than ever.
• Custom Greeting Cards Ship your favorite images to your favorite people with our 4x6" or 5x7" greeting cards with envelopes.
• Canvas Transfers Want more than a copy of your favourite poster? Transfer it to canvas for a long-lasting, uniquely personal artwork.
• Dry Mounting Mount any printed image to foam board, aluminum sheeting or wood panelling. Resin coating optional.
• Artwork Scanning Our large, flatbed scanner takes a digital image of your print or original for endless reproductions.
• Custom made Stretcher Frames We build your custom blank canvas to any dimensions and depth, primed or unprimed canvas.
• Custom-size Artist Canvases We build your custom blank canvas to any dimensions and depth, primed or unprimed canvas.
• Custom Cut Mounting Boards We will cut your chosen substrate to any size! Foam core, Gatorboard, Plexiglass and ...
• Wood Panels Quality birch plywood panels in your choice of size and depth. Great for tempera paints and resin coatings.

A division of USAOnCanvas.com New York prints on canvas - Gallery Picture Frames Oklahoma Laser Engraving & Cutting Services