OSU Museum of Art expands Native art collection with gift from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts

OSU Museum of Art expands Native art collection with gift from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts

Monday, December 15, 2025

Media Contact: Amy Juarez | OSU Museum of Art Marketing and Communications | 405-744-2783 | [email protected]

The Oklahoma State University Museum of Art announced the receipt of three contemporary Native American works from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

This gift reflects the center's commitment to sharing its collection with institutions that foster public engagement, education and appreciation of Indigenous art.

Among the three works, Jamison Chas Banks' "Imprint" editions have already been integrated into OSU's ENG 4310: Modern Oklahoma Writers course. During a class visit, students explored the works of Oklahoma authors and examined how literary expression and visual art intersect.

In addition to the artwork, the OSU MoA has received $6,711 through the Ralph T. Coe Center Rehoming Program Grant. These funds will support exhibition, interpretation and collection care, helping the museum expand accessible, hands-on learning opportunities for students and the broader community.

"This gift and grant provide an exciting opportunity for the museum to engage students, scholars and visitors directly with Indigenous art," said Carla Shelton, associate director. "It supports our mission to foster understanding and appreciation of both historic and contemporary works of art through exhibitions, collections and programming that serve OSU, the Stillwater community and audiences beyond."

OSU MoA's dedication to Native art extends far beyond its galleries. Through student vault visits, online digital collections and partnerships with programs such as the Center for Sovereign Nations and the Oklahoma Oral History Research Program, the museum strives to make art and culture accessible to all. Recent initiatives include the 2024 exhibition "A Constellation of Color: The Art of Benjamin Harjo Jr." and the 2025 exhibition "Community, Creativity, and Continuity: Native American Art in Everyday Life," curated by OSU students in collaboration with Guest Curator Amber DuBoise-Shepherd (Diné | Prairie Band Potawatomi | Sac & Fox).

The addition of these works from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts further strengthens OSU MoA's role as a hub for learning, engagement and appreciation of art and culture in Oklahoma and beyond.

To learn more about the Oklahoma State University Museum of Art's permanent collection, visit museum.okstate.edu/art/collections/

Funding for this season is provided by Marilynn and Carl Thoma, Lou Watkins and the OSU Museum of Art Advocates.