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The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma is pleased to announce the exhibition “Outré West: The American School of Architecture from Oklahoma to California,” meticulously curated by Gibbs faculty members Dr. Angela Person, Dr. Stephanie Pilat, and Marco Piscitelli. The exhibition also features significant contributions from faculty and students across the college and beyond. Hans Baldauf, Rachel Engler, Christopher Loofs and Amber Brown curated sections of the exhibition dedicated to the work of individual architects. This exhibition opened on August 22, 2024, at the Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center.
Outré West delves into the creative journey of architects who were mentored in Oklahoma during the 1950s and 1960s under the direction of iconic figures like Bruce Goff and Herb Greene. These architects later transported their innovative approaches to California, significantly influencing its architectural landscape with projects ranging from the eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge to the Pavilion for Japanese Art in Los Angeles.
The exhibition features large-scale photographs, architectural models, and archival materials that illustrate the transformative impact these architects had on both Oklahoma and California’s built environments. It highlights how their education at the University of Oklahoma encouraged a break from conventional architectural canons, fostering a culture of innovation and creativity.
The curatorial team, led by Person, Pilat, and Piscitelli, has collaborated with a dynamic group of researchers and students to bring this exhibition to life. This includes full-scale installations of notable projects such as Mickey Muennig’s Big Sur studio and Violeta Autumn’s Cliff House, meticulously recreated by Gibbs students under the guidance of OU lecturer Ken Marold.
The exhibition was also made possible by OU Libraries and the American School archive, whose invaluable resources and support have been crucial in documenting and preserving the legacy of these iconic architects.
To learn more about the exhibition, please visit the Oklahoma Contemporary’s website.
A project designed by Gibbs College of Architecture faculty member Austin Lightle has been selected for BuildFest 2026, a national art and architecture festival held at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in New York, on the historic grounds of the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival.
Two Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture alumni are helping shape recommendations that could influence affordable housing design and construction across Oklahoma.
The University of Oklahoma Libraries recently welcomed Carl Siegel as an Architecture Librarian and Archivist and Assistant Professor. In his role, Siegel supports students, faculty and staff across the Gibbs College of Architecture while also serving as archivist for the American School of Architecture Archives.
