The Oklahoma Arts Council sends this information as posted below:
OKLAHOMA CITY (February 11, 2025) – When the Betty Price Gallery reopens February 25, works by Oklahoma’s most prominent artists will again be featured together in one remarkable museum-quality space for Oklahomans and visitors from around the world to view at the Oklahoma State Capitol—the state’s largest public art museum.
Closed five years due to restoration work at the Capitol, the gallery will reopen Tuesday, February 25, in its new location on the heavily trafficked second floor. The Oklahoma Arts Council will be joined by Governor Kevin Stitt, state Senator Adam Pugh, state Representative Chad Caldwell, and other state and legislative leaders to celebrate the reopening at 4:00 p.m. in the second-floor rotunda. Pugh and Caldwell chair their chambers’ appropriation and budget education subcommittees. Oklahomans are invited to attend the event to enjoy the Betty Price Gallery’s inaugural exhibition. There is no cost to attend. RSVPs are encouraged at [email protected].
The grand reopening celebration will feature remarks by state leaders, a ribbon cutting, live music, and a reception with light refreshments. The inaugural exhibition will feature several thematic areas: Impactful Artworks; New Acquisitions; In Memoriam; The People: A Community of Oklahomans; and, Brilliance in Color. Artists with works featured in the inaugural exhibition include internationally renowned pop art icon and Oklahoma Cultural Treasure Ed Ruscha, Allan C. Houser, Enoch Kelly Haney, National Heritage Fellow Anita Fields, Carol Beesley, J. Jay McVicker, Harold Holden, Joan Hill, T.C. Cannon, Eugene Bavinger, M.J. Alexander, and other prominent names in the visual arts in Oklahoma.
“When Oklahomans walk into their Capitol, they’ll see a beautiful preservation of our great history, culture, and artistry,” said Stitt. “I’m grateful to our friends at the Arts Council for their work in bringing this collection to life. I encourage all Oklahomans to stop by and enjoy.”
“The Betty Price Gallery is a proud testament to Oklahoma’s talented artists,” said Pugh. “Preserving our history and supporting the arts are vital to inspiring future generations and enriching their educational experiences. I’m proud to see Oklahoma’s rich heritage on display and extend my appreciation to the Arts Council and all who made this possible.”
“Amazing artwork fills the entire Capitol, and it is exciting to see the Betty Price Gallery reopening to further enhance the artistic beauty within the People’s House,” said Caldwell. “The gallery features some of Oklahoma’s best artists, including Enid’s very own Harold Holden. I am grateful for the work the Oklahoma Arts Council does to ensure Oklahoma’s finest art is accessible to all Oklahomans.”
“We are grateful state leaders prioritized the return of the Betty Price Gallery as part of the Capitol restoration,” said Oklahoma Arts Council Executive Director Amber Sharples. “Since 2007, the State Art Collection has had a perfect home right here in The People’s House. The Capitol is truly the ideal place to bring together the state’s most prominent artists through this collection. When visitors stroll through the gallery in its new space, they will again encounter a view of the world the way Oklahomans see it, as captured in the artworks of our most beloved artists.”
In addition to the inaugural Betty Price Gallery exhibition, February 25 will include the return of exhibitions in the Capitol’s rotating galleries—the North, East, and Governor’s galleries. The galleries feature artwork by Oklahoma artists and exhibitions rotate every 60 days. The first set of rotating exhibitions feature artists Jason Wilson of McAlester in the East Gallery, Jake Durham of Konawa in the North Gallery, and the late Harold T. Holden of Enid in the Governor’s Gallery. All exhibitions are curated by the Oklahoma Arts Council, which manages the collections of artwork at the Capitol.
Free and open to the public, the Betty Price Gallery will open for its regular hours, weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., beginning February 26.
History of the Betty Price Gallery
In 2007, the Oklahoma Arts Council opened a museum-quality gallery on the first floor of the Oklahoma State Capitol to serve as the home of the Oklahoma State Art Collection. The collection is comprised of works by Oklahoma’s most notable artists, and the gallery—an official Oklahoma Centennial Commission project—was the realization of the vision to create a permanent space for the remarkable collection. More than 200 works of art in mediums ranging from painting and photography to ceramics, sculpture, and fiber art, are part of the Oklahoma State Art Collection.
In 2008, following the retirement of longtime Oklahoma Arts Council executive director Betty Price, the gallery was renamed in her honor. Price was a driving force in the commissioning of countless works of Capitol artwork. She worked closely with state leaders and the Oklahoma Centennial Commission to open the original gallery space in the Capitol. In its new space on second floor, the space retains its namesake and adds a new logo for the gallery featuring Betty’s signature.
For more information about the Betty Price Gallery Grand Reopening event, contact Curator of Capitol Exhibitions Erin Latham, PhD, at [email protected].
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