Nestled in the heart of Bricktown, Exhibit C Gallery is a gateway to a treasure trove of indigenous art and cultural expression.
“Exhibit C places heavy importance on our mission of celebrating and uplifting Native voices through art. We aim to serve the First American art community not only in Oklahoma but across the U.S.,” said Katie Goodnight, tourism arts manager for the Chickasaw Nation.
One of those artists who just debuted a decade-long project is D.G. Smalling, a Choctaw Nation master artist. His exhibit, “Land Ownership and British Government Treaties Project,” is the culmination of a comprehensive research collaboration with Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne of the United Kingdom House of Lords.
His intention is to start a conversation about the ethical challenges confronting contemporary First American artists and ledger artwork and to showcase a body of work referencing the findings in this research project.
Conceived at the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s Sovereignty Symposium, Baroness Nicholson and Smalling spent a decade identifying, locating, indexing and analyzing material, culminating in 1,000 land transactional documents related to the Chickasaw Nation in the context of land ownership and the British government.
“We’re celebrating the largest transactional history of documents between the Chickasaw Nation and the UK. This spans from the very first encounters between the Chickasaw Nation and the British,” said Smalling. “What I wanted to do with the exhibition is showcase new types of documents in history that have never been seen before.”
The material amassed during this extensive research endeavor will be digitized and made available online, as well as housed at the Bodleian Library at Oxford University. Smalling views Exhibit C Gallery as the ideal platform to unveil this project, describing it as a space to innovate and experiment.
“Exhibit C is a place where you can beta ideas, where you can beta your concepts and to experiment to see what works and what doesn’t work,” said Smalling.
The Chickasaw Nation opened Exhibit C Gallery in 2014 with the vision of raising awareness of the many cultural experiences in Oklahoma. The gallery displays a variety of art mediums from First American artists living around the world.
The gallery has been a nurturing space for artists like Natalie Miller, an Oklahoma contemporary artist and Chickasaw Citizen. Her colorful pieces not only showcase a modern aesthetic to art but also her First American heritage.
“I think especially for me, kind of getting back into painting and exploring my heritage, Exhibit C has created a community for me and artists alike to be around each other,” said Miller. “They are really good about showcasing traditional and contemporary art so it really broadens the audience.”
Exhibit C Gallery provides an inclusive platform for artists from any federally recognized tribe to showcase their art, from textiles to pottery, sculptures and more.
“It’s such a fantastic aspect of the gallery; Bringing together both emerging and seasoned artists to offer a glimpse at what First American art is. For many of our visitors, the gallery is a first connection or important reintroduction to indigenous art, and that’s a responsibility and privilege we don’t take lightly,” Goodnight said.
Exhibit C Gallery is set to embark on a new phase in 2025. It will expand and relocate to a spacious 10,000-square-foot multi-use gallery space within the Horizons District, along the Oklahoma River, adjacent to the First Americans Museum and OKANA Resort.
“This next phase for Exhibit C will bring enhanced experiences and greater space to dedicate to our artists and exhibitions,” said Goodnight.
Exhibit C Gallery is open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Exhibit C Gallery
1 E Sheridan Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
405.767.8900