TULSA, OK.- Philbrook Museum of Art announced a strategic partnership with the Vitra Design Museum (Weil am Rhein, Germany). The long-term partnership (2012-2016) will bring three major exhibitions to Philbrook. The first of which will be the inaugural North American debut of Antibodies: Fernando & Humberto Campana, 1989 – 2009 (July 8-Sept. 20, 2012). For the duration of this partnership, Philbrook will be the exclusive venue of Vitra exhibitions within a 425 km radius of Tulsa. The two organizations have also agreed to cooperate regarding collective exhibition planning for display at Philbrook of exhibitions co-organized by VDM. Alexander von Vegesack, director of the Vitra Design Museum remarked, “I look forward to seeing the first results of our cooperation and I am very proud to be working together to promote design in the United States.”

Philbrook’s forthcoming satellite location in Tulsa’s Brady Arts District will establish a new forum for modern and contemporary art and design in the community. This partnership builds on that dedication. Philbrook director Randall Suffolk stated: “Given their collection, expertise, and curatorial ability, The VDM is among the most significant design organizations in the world. This partnership clearly supports Philbrook’s intent to make design a center of excellence within our collection and programming.”

Since being founded in 1989, the Vitra Design Museum has grown to become one of the world’s most highly recognized cultural institutions for research on and the popularization of design and architecture. The museum maintains one of the largest collections of modern furniture design in the world, including the complete three-dimensional estate of Charles and Ray Eames.