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The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture proudly announces the highly successful opening of the Outré West: The American School of Architecture from Oklahoma to California exhibition. Held on August 22, 2024, at the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center, the event drew hundreds of attendees.
Guests at the Outré West opening.
Organized by lead curators Dr. Angela Person, Dr. Stephanie Pilat, and Marco Piscitelli, Outré West showcases the innovative journey of Oklahoma-trained architects who later influenced California’s architectural scene. Hans Baldauf, FAIA, Dr. Rachel Engler, Christopher Loofs, and Amber Brown also curated sections within the exhibition.
Guests tour the exhibition.
Outré West was made possible with support from the OU Vice President for Research and Partnerships and thanks to OU Libraries’ recent acquisitions of the archives of John Marsh Davis, Violeta Autumn, Donald MacDonald, and Mickey Muennig. It features an impressive array of large-scale photographs, architectural models, and archival materials that vividly illustrate the transformative impact these architects had on both Oklahoma and California’s built environments.
Co-curator Marco Piscitelli leads a tour of the exhibition.
A highlight of the exhibition is the full-scale installations, including recreations of Mickey Muennig’s Big Sur studio and and Moon Gate. These installations, meticulously recreated by Gibbs students under the guidance of OU lecturer Ken Marold, offer visitors an immersive experience into the bold, unconventional designs that characterize the American School of Architecture.
A re-creation of Mickey Muennig's studio, crafted by OU students.
The opening night was not only a celebration of architectural innovation that originated at the University of Oklahoma in the 1950s and ’60s but also a gathering that drew a diverse crowd, from students and professionals in the field of architecture to art lovers and general enthusiasts. Attendees discussed the iconic designs, sharing personal memories of the featured homes, and examining intricate scale models of notable structures such as Herb Greene’s Prairie House and Bruce Goff’s Bavinger House.
Co-curator Angela Person speaks at the opening of the exhibition.
The evening also included a panel discussion led by the curators, which explored the exhibition’s development process, the far-reaching impact of the American School on architecture, and Bruce Goff’s innovative teaching methods. The discussion drew a packed house.
Co-curator Stephanie Pilat speaks at the opening of the exhibition.
Looking ahead, the exhibition will run through January 27, 2025, at the Eleanor Kirkpatrick Main Gallery. Oklahoma Contemporary has planned a series of events to complement the exhibition, including a “Budding Builders” family program on September 14, the Outré West Symposium on October 17 led by the curators, and a Veterans Day event exploring the military’s influence on the American School of Architecture.
Co-curator Marco Piscitelli speaks at the opening of the exhibition.
For more details on the exhibition and upcoming related events, please visit the Oklahoma Contemporary’s website.
Gibbs College is pleased to present the exhibition Vollendorf in Oklahoma: The Architecture of Dean Bryant Vollendorf during the Spring 2025 semester. It will be on display in Gould Hall, on the OU-Norman Campus, from February 16, 2026 - March 13, 2026.
On November 21, 2025, the Mainsite Contemporary Art gallery was transformed into a showcase of innovation and craftsmanship for the University of Oklahoma’s furniture design build studio exhibition, “Purpose in Form.”
Associate Professors Lee Fithian, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Pober have published a chapter in the recently released New Perspectives in Indoor Air Quality, published by Elsevier. Their contribution, titled “Chapter 16 – Architecture and the Challenges of Indoor Air Quality,” examines the relationship between architecture and indoor air quality.
