Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center
4.7(591)google
4.8(19)yelp
Contemporary ArtPerformanceFree
Overview
Oklahoma Contemporary Arts Center is a Contemporary Art Museum in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It is a non-profit arts center which was founded in 1989. Architectural Digest noted in 2020 at the new building's opening: "What was born in 1989 as a modest community arts center on the outskirts of Oklahoma City has since blossomed into the powerhouse art institution Oklahoma Contemporary, which desperately needed a new building to match its bigger and brighter goals...The result is a nearly 54,000-square-foot (5,000 m2) marvel nestled into what’s been dubbed the Innovation District—a hotbed of creativity spanning industries from the arts to aerospace engineering.
Practical Info
Suggested Duration1.5-2.5 hours
Best TimeAn indoor modern oasis for contemporary art lovers year-round. Visit on a Saturday afternoon between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM; the brilliant plains sunlight strikes the building's award-winning exterior shell, comprised of thousands of custom aluminum fins that bend and fold daylight.
Getting ThereLocated downtown at 11 NW 11th St. Driving is highly convenient as the arts complex offers its own expansive complimentary visitor parking lots directly behind the main building. Via rail, ride the OKC Streetcar to the 11th Street stop and walk 1 block west to the entrance doors.
Travel Tips
- Located at NW 11th and Broadway, this venue features free dedicated ground parking; if full during major openings, utilize surrounding street meters and never park in opposite commercial private spaces.
- The contemporary installations and multimedia sculptures are mostly unshielded; open liquids, coffee, and loose snacks are strictly banned, and you must maintain a 1-meter safety buffer from all artworks.
- The rooftop terrace closes instantly during severe summer thunderstorms, hail watches, or high wind events; verify daily rooftop access status with the first-floor reception desk before ascending.
Reviews
Positive
- The modern building with its folding aluminum facade is a visual masterpiece itself. Inside, the avant-garde contemporary art installations deliver great value.
- The interior layout is grand and spacious, with state-of-the-art facilities. Restrooms are pristine, and wide corridors ensure an elite accessible experience.
- Front desk staff and gallery docents are polite, providing high-quality brochures. Art conservation and crowd guidance are professional and welcoming.
- Incredibly, general admission and parking are completely free to the public. Enjoying world-class modern art for zero dollars offers unbelievable value.
Heads up
- Some contemporary pieces are highly abstract and lack accessible contextual descriptions, leaving non-art major publics or seniors feeling confused.
- Though eye-catching, the dedicated free lot is quite small and easily crams full during weekend exhibition openings, forcing tourists to premium distant lots.
- The indoor cafe erratically adjusts its hours, with highly limited and overpriced items, disrupting plans for a relaxing afternoon coffee.
- The permanent collection scale is thin compared to major mega-museums, and rotation cycles are long, reducing the novelty for repeat visitors.