Outré West Exhibit Opens to Enthusiastic Crowds at Oklahoma Contemporary

OKLAHOMA CITY — Outré West: The American School of Architecture from Oklahoma to California opened August 22 at the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, drawing a diverse crowd. 

Running through January 27, 2025, in the Eleanor Kirkpatrick Main Gallery, the exhibit explores how Oklahoma’s architectural style influenced California.

Showcasing bold, unconventional designs with flowing forms and intricate wood elements, the exhibit blends with various landscapes and challenges traditional art boundaries.

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Details from the whimsical, organic Lencioni House by Arthur Dyson, with a wooden puzzle box inspired by the residence, Outré West. (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)

It was also announced that a feature on Outré West will air at 8 p.m. on Sunday, August 25, on the Smithsonian Channel’s “How Did They Build That?” program.

“This is a significant moment for us here at Oklahoma Contemporary as it puts our beloved Arts Center in Oklahoma City on the map in new, inspiring ways,” Oklahoma Contemporary Executive Director Trent Riley said after announcing the news at the opening night event.

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A guest at the opening studies photographs of details of the architects’ work at Outré West. (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)

Outré West: A closer look 

The Outré West exhibit highlights architects from the University of Oklahoma’s American School of Architecture, known for its innovative and unconventional styles under Bruce Goff and Herb Greene. Their designs, emphasizing creativity and experimentation, influenced iconic projects in California. 

Ted Reeds, a colleague of the curators, praised the exhibit for its nature-inspired forms challenging traditional design norms, highlighting the structure and discipline behind the American School of design in Oklahoma.

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Angela Person leads the Curator Panel at the opening night of the exhibit Outré West. (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)

“What I really like about it is it’s bringing the American School to the people of Oklahoma again,” Reeds said in an interview with Free Press.

Co-curator Angela Person, an OU associate professor, highlighted how Goff built a pioneering architectural community in Oklahoma, with OU architects leading innovative design well before it became mainstream.

“These renegades, as we’ve come to call them, promoted our radical approach to teaching, centered on contextualism, resourcefulness and experimentation,” Person said at the event. “The OU curriculum emphasized individual creativity and experimentation.”

Unlike U.S. schools that followed European styles, OU fostered creativity and independent thinking. Co-curator Stephanie Pilat noted that OU’s focus on originality set it apart in architectural practices.

Featured architects

The exhibit showcases works by notable American School architects:

  • Violeta Autumn (1930-2012): Known for vibrant, uniquely shaped buildings like the Autumn House and Turk St. Apartment Building in San Francisco.
  • John Marsh Davis (1931-2009): Renowned for organic, flowing designs like the Barbour House and Joseph Phelps Vineyard that blend seamlessly with nature.
  • Arthur Dyson (b. 1940): Celebrated for creative woodwork in projects such as the Woodward Park Regional Library and Lencioni Residence.
  • Donald MacDonald (b. 1935): Famous for the striking eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, combining function and visual appeal.
  • George Kaye “Mickey” Muennig (1935-2021): Noted for bold, nature-integrated designs like the Psyllos House and Post Ranch Inn on the coast.

Opening celebration and initial perspectives 

Riley emphasized that the exhibit traces the American School of Architecture’s impact from Oklahoma to California, using contemporary art to highlight the unique architectural styles and their regional connections.

“The exhibition is a perfect blend of historical exploration and contemporary artistic expression,” Riley told Free Press in an interview.

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A guest takes in sketches and blueprints at the exhibit at Outré West. (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)

The August 22 opening drew a diverse crowd, from casual art lovers to architecture experts. Guests enjoyed wine and sodas while discussing the exhibit’s iconic designs, sharing memories of the featured homes, and examining intricate miniature dioramas.

Attendees photographed the exhibits, reconnected with old friends, and explored interactive elements while enjoying a display of blueprints, photographs, and architectural works highlighting geometric and natural forms.

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A guest leans in to take in the work of Violeta Autumn during the opening of Outré West. (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)

A standout piece in the exhibit is a projected text based on Arthur Dyson’s client psychological profile, providing an intriguing glimpse into his architectural approach.

Matt Miller, who contributed to the exhibit’s AV projects, was among the attendees and enjoyed the variety of elements on display. 

“There’s a huge connection to Oklahoma in it, and I love seeing the design elements come through in the exhibition,” Miller said in an interview. 

He especially admired the miniatures, highlighting an intricate diorama of Herb Greene’s Prairie House and Bruce Goff’s Bavinger House, both in Norman. Riley pointed out that these miniatures were among the more challenging elements to create.

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A miniature of Herb Greene’s Prairie House at Outré West. (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)

The Prairie House, a highlight of the exhibit, prompted a lively response during the panel discussion, in which curator Stephanie Pilat asked how many attendees had visited the house, resulting in a sea of raised hands.

“It is an icon,” Pilat said about the Prairie House during the panel. “It’s an original work, representative of the incredible creativity of American School architects.”

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The Curator Panel (from left to right): Hans Baldauf, Rachel Engler, Christopher Loofs, Amber Sarmiento, and Marco Piscitelli at the opening of Outré West. (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)

The panel discussion, led by Angela Person, Stephanie Pilat, and Marco Piscitelli, explored the exhibit’s development and the American School’s impact on architecture. The talk covered Goff’s innovative teaching methods and drew a full house, with guests enjoying light bites and stories from the curators.

Panelists highlighted key exhibit features and Bruce Goff’s use of music and arts in architecture, with attendees eager to learn more.

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A full audience of Attendees looks on during the Curator Panel at Outré West. (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)

As the event concluded, guests also explored the Learning Gallery, which features additional elements related to the exhibit.

Riley previewed upcoming events, including the “Budding Builders” family program Sept. 14, the Outré West Symposium on Oct. 17, led by the curators, and a Veterans Day event on how the military influenced the American School of Architecture.


Author Profile

Zoe Elrod covers events and happenings around Oklahoma City for Free Press bringing her skill as a reporter and photographer. Zoe has spent her career covering local musicians, artists, politicians, and everyday folks.