OKLAHOMA CITY, OK.- Two new, original exhibitions are now open at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art: “Art with a History” and “The Art of Light.”

“Art with a History,” which explores the provenance, or ownership history, of 13 works of art from OKCMOA’s permanent collection, was researched and curated by Kress Fellow for Provenance Research Dr. Bryn Schockmel. “The Art of Light” celebrates Oklahoma Contemporary’s inaugural exhibition, “Bright Golden Haze,” with three historical artworks that use light as the medium.

“Understanding the provenance of a work of art adds to its cultural and historical value,” said Schockmel. “It allows us to better situate an artwork in the past and to appreciate what meaning it may have held for previous collectors.




“The goal of provenance research is to trace the ownership history of an object, from the time of its creation through its acquisition by its current owners,” Schockmel continued. “Through this process, researchers often uncover fascinating stories about past collectors and the many different places an object may have traveled and been displayed.”

"I would like to thank the Kirkpatrick Family Fund for presenting 'The Art of Light,' as well as our sponsors for both exhibitions" said Kimberley Worrell, OKCMOA director of development. "Through their support we are proud to present new research on OKCMOA's collection. It is exciting to be able to showcase our wonderful collection in new ways. We are enormously grateful to our donors for helping us share these important stories with our community."

“Art with a History” features paintings, sculptures, and works on paper from the Renaissance to the 20th century and explores the unique ownership histories of each object and the methods used to uncover their stories.

Inspired by the exploration of light as a tool to create space, “The Art of Light” seeks to communicate the unique visual experiences provided by different forms of light when they are employed to achieve artistic ends. The centerpiece of the exhibition is Barbara Astman’s “Present Tense” (2005-06), comprised of a set of flashlights whose lenses are masked by pictures of faces. The work projects floating, smiling faces onto a darkened surface.

“Art with a History” will be open through Nov. 29, 2020. “The Art of Light” will be open through Sept. 27, 2020.