Oklahoma State Art Collection
Painting
Paintings comprise a large portion of the Oklahoma State Art Collection. This section of the collection includes representational paintings to geometric abstract paintings and many styles in between. From acrylic to oil to mixed media to watercolor, the variety of styles and media of paintings in the collection is immense.
105-90 Totem Series by Nicholas Kyle
This large abstract painting uses the repetition of similar shapes at various angles to create visual movement.
A Mercedes Is For People Like Us by William Bennett Berry
Using typography and other elements often employed in retail advertisements, A Mercedes Is For People Like Us is contemporary pop art.
Abandoned by John Randolph
In this painting a solitaire house rests on a prairie of yellow and against a blue horizon.
Bedroom on Telegraph Ave. by Marty C. Avrett
Offering a glimpse into an intimate scene of a home, Bedroom on Telegraph Ave., explores the possibilities of complementary color, pattern, and perspective.
Bender No. 2 by Bob D. Barker
With repeating geometric shapes and an atypically shaped canvas, Bender No. 2 represents the intersection of mathematics and the visual arts.
Bird Market by George Calvert
Primarily painted in orange, tan, greens, and browns, Bird Market depicts the interior of a marketplace through abstracted forms.
Blue Symphony by Charles Reynolds
This landscape was painted by Charles Reynolds shows the beauty of the terraced land as it lays in the foreground of a mountain.
Bricktown Trolley by Rick McClure
This painting of downtown Oklahoma City was painting from an 'en plain air' study made on location along with a reference photograph.
Buffalo Hunter by Stephen Mopope
Painted in a flat style and reminiscent of ledger art, Buffalo Hunter is devoid of a background which keeps the focus on the action portrayed in this artwork.
Colorfield by Paul England
Through striations of color applied in a splatter-like manner, Colorfield provides an example of the abstract expressionist movement in Oklahoma.
Coming Home from the Trading Post by Fred Beaver
This depiction of traditional Seminole life, shows a family preparing to land their dugout canoe as they return home.
Conversation Between Friends by Benjamin Harjo, Jr.
Benjamin Harjo, Jr.'s work is often noted for its inclusion of vibrant color and curving shapes.
Creek Trial by Solomon McCombs
Painted in a flat style, Creek Trail shows a moment of rest and contemplation during a voyage.
Dawn, Quartz Mountain by Carol Beesley
This beautiful landscapes captures a scene that has been viewed by many Oklahoma artists as they find inspiration in Quartz Mountain.
Distant Fog Bank by Eugene Bavinger
Shapes of red and blue seem to float atop beige shapes in a field of gray in this painting which explores light, color, and illusion.
Emerald Lake No. 1 by Oscar Jacobson
With block-like shapes and thickly applied paint, Emerald Lake No. 1 was created in a post-impressionist style.
Evening by William Harold Smith
The poetically softened realism in Evening is an example of the style of painting known as Regionalism that had been very popular in America for about a decade preceding this painting.
Everyone Loves a Clown by Ronald Radcliff
This is bold painting is composed of the abstracted image of clown's face.
Genesis by Mary Nickell
This abstract mixed media canvas is primarily red and orange with shades of green and expressive brushstrokes.
Green Obliquity by J. Jay McVicker
In this optical artwork repeated bars of red, white, green, and black create a highly energetic composition.
Grimace on Trike by D.J. (Dee J.) Lafon
In this figurative painting, the artist combines a formal painting style with a looser style reminiscent of an underpainting.
Hide and Seek by Mary Russell
In this still life painting, the artist uses her mastery of painting both light and dark to capture our attention.
Inert Motion No. 1 by Leo Chandler
With its illusory quality, Inert Motion No. 1 serves as an example of optical art.
Interstate 55, Springfield by Daniel Lang
Interstate 55, Springfield explores perspective through the use of flat color and a canvas divided into two areas.
Landscape Fragment by Bob D. Barker
With a shaped canvas and two complementary colors, Landscape Fragments uses shape and tonal changes to create the illusion of a pyramid emerging from the canvas.
Landscape with Figure by Bill Harrison
The artist implies depth in this loosely painted landscape through the use of one-point perspective.
Looking Into N.M. by Linley Tonkin
In this naturalistic figure painting, a young woman seems to be momentarily disrupted from her reading.
Narcho's Blues by Jim Waid
This large acrylic on canvas diptych features brightly colored organic shapes which is indicative of Jim Waid's work.
Neuf Series for Maine and Oklahoma by Edgar Heap of Birds
This abstract painting is part of Edgar Heap of Birds' Neuf Series.
Nichols Family (The Masters) by William Bennett Berry
In this large diptych painting, the artist explores the combination of figurative painting and design elements often associated with advertising.
Oklahoma by Jack Vallee
This watercolor by Jack Vallee features grasslands with shrub growth and a rolling hill.
Oklahoma Landscape by B.J. (Billy Joe) Smith
With muted and pastel hues, B.J. Smith presents sleek and simple look down an Oklahoma highway.
Old Man (Arapaho) by Brent Learned
Through the use of bold colors, Brent Learned paints an Arapaho elder in an expressionistic style.
Parasols by Glenda Green
This naturalistic summer scene show two women protecting their faces from the sun with hats and parasols.
Pop Fletcher's Bedstead by Bill Strain
A headboard rises above tall vegetation in this pastoral scene.
Prayer for Mother by Archie Blackowl
In this work and many others, Archie Blackowl painted a scene that captures a moment in traditional Southern Plains life.
Quartet by Sam Olkinetzky
As the title implies, this painted construction is composed of four frames joined onto one panel.
Reclining Nude by Marlene Collins Walker
This still life plays with the idea of the seen versus the unseen.
Red Buffalo by Bert Seabourn
This acrylic painting uses a variety of red tones to create a very energetic representation of a buffalo.
Red Earth Canyon by Alexandre Hogue
Though beautiful in its composition, this 1932 painting conveys the damage inhabitants sometimes do to the land.
Retired for the Duration by Joan LaRue
Warm highlights and cool shadows interact playfully in this winter scene.
Rose by John Arthur
Painted with thin layers of acrylic paint on paper, Rose illustrates the delicate interplay of light and shadow upon petals.
Salt Fork of the Red River by Robert Gartland
This watercolor depicts the Salt Fork of the Red River located in the southwest corner of Oklahoma.
Sand and Sea by Janey Crain
This abstracted seascape uses stoneware to provide texture to the white-capped wave.
Say Cheese by Elizabeth Hahn
The frame of this whimsical artwork is painted with vibrant breakfast cereal loops that are also seen within the artwork.
Sequoyah by Charles Banks Wilson
Sequoyah is credited with the creation of the Cherokee syllabary, a group of 85 symbols used to notate the sounds of the Cherokee language.
Snow by the Cedars by Cletus Smith
This intimate canvas depicts the starkness of cedar trees against gray winters sky.
Snow on the Sangre de Cristos by Bill Harrison
This landscape depicts the southern subrange of the Rocky Mountains.
South Shore Sneaker by Cynthia Huff
This unusual still life may remind some viewers of a trip to the beach.
Special Places by Regina Murphy
Special Places by Regina Murphy is colorful landscape with undulating forms creating a mountain and forest scene with yellow trees.
Spring by Dale McKinney
In this nonobjective painting, the artist has created visual movement through the creation of multiple layers of paint which interact together.
Steppeland Summer by Jean Richardson
This highly abstract painting is actually quite representational featuring several horses throughout the composition.
Summer Morning by Dean Bloodgood
With a limited palette and very few objects, this painting is able to convey much information to the viewer.
Summertime in Bartlesville by Rose Smith
figurative stylized scene Black female in blue green chair black child in pink dress on left, basket of apples next to child
Sunflowers and Daisies and Red Vase by Kara Lee Merrell
In this vibrant still life, the artist uses pairs two sets of complimentary colors.
Tang Horse with Ming by Richard Goetz
This still life of by influential Oklahoma artist and instructor Richard Goetz depicts objects that convey a fascination with Asian culture.
Tatiana by Katherine Gordon Rice
This figurative painting portrays four ballerinas preparing for a performance.
The Banker by D.J. (Dee J.) Lafon
This painting is from a long running series of paintings by the artist in which he investigates people of power.
The Creeper by Wallace Owens, Jr.
This is an acrylic mixed media work that is reminiscent of abstract expressionism.
The Dream Sower Papillon by Skip Hill
This narrative artwork uses a mixture of painted and collaged elements to create an image of youthful aspirations and hope.
The F.F.V. by M. Glenn Godsey
The F.F.V. is an acrylic composition of a train engine captured in a photorealistic style.
The First Immigrants (Mind of Man) by O. Gail Poole
In this painting, the artist presents us with the image of a man who may be contemplating his place among those who have come before him.
The Garden of the Bachianas by Gloria Abella
In garden filled with large blossoming flora, two figures appear to dance with joy.
The Golden Mask by Loraine Moore
The Golden Mask combines painting and collage. It was inspired by the artist's trip to Africa.
The Great Plains by Lee Mullican
This large abstract painting is composed of large planes of red with simple geometric shapes and tribal symbols.
The Red Door by Winnifred (Winnie) Hawkins
In this painting, a large red shape located just left of center seems to be The Red Door the viewer first sees when gazing at this artwork.
The Shaw Round Up by Augusta I. Metcalfe
The Shaw Round Up depicts the Shaw Ranch in Roger Mills County near where Augusta I. Metcalfe lived.
Thoughts While Riding a Trike by D.J. (Dee J.) Lafon
In this painting, the artist uses a trompe l'oeil technique in which he makes it appear as though a piece of paper has been tucked in the bottom right corner of the painting.
Three Figures by Ella Jack
Through the simplification of shape and form, the artist provides an expressive quality to Three Figures.
Umbral Series X by John O’Neil
This is an acrylic on canvas abstract composition of overlapping forms creating shapes of muted violets and browns.
Untitled by Joe Goode
In Joe Goode's 1969 oil on canvas work Unititled, three sheets are seen floating in midair as if propelled by the wind.
Untitled by Reginald Coleman
In this non-objective artwork, a large triangle becomes the focal point through use of contrast.
Variable No. 5 by Brunel Faris
This artwork from Brunel Faris' 'variable' series was intended to be an artwork in which the viewer can visually and tactilely interact.
Violent Times by Eugene Jesse Brown
As the name indicates, Violent Times presents drama and tension at a moment in which the world itself seems to be crumbling down.
Vista Two by George Bogart
In this color field painting, the artist reserves the use of contrasting color and rhythmic bushstrokes for the side and bottom edges of the painting.
Whispering Bird by Bert Seabourn
This is a watercolor of a male American Indian figure with one side of his face in shadow and a black and white feather extending from his head with a perched bird.
Women's Voices at the Council by Joan Hill
Women's Voices at the Council depicts the importance of women in ancient American Indian society.