Oklahoma Art League was organized in 1910 by Nellie Shepard, Mrs. John S Shartel, and Mrs. Edwin Dunn. These Ladies met in Paris and talked about establishing an art museum in Oklahoma City. The first meeting was held in January 1911. Charles Colcord was elected president and the dues were $1 with a membership of 30. In 1915, Mrs. Jon Shartel was elected president for the next 36 years.

       The Art league started collecting art for the future museum in 1913. The first two pieces acquired were “A Brittany Fisherman” by Nellie Shepard and “A Hindu” by Martha Avey. Both pieces now belong to the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.

       After many years of collecting pieces of art, Nan Sheets, a member of the Art League, became director of the W.P.A. Art Center, which opened in 1935. She housed and curated the art pieces in her home, which is now JRB Art at the Elms.

       In 1958, thanks to a generous contribution by the John Kirkpatrick family, the Oklahoma Art Center opened at the fairgrounds. Finally, in 1989 the Oklahoma Art Center and the Oklahoma Art Museum, which was located on the Buttram estate, merged to form the Oklahoma City Museum of Art. In 2002 the Oklahoma City Museum of Art moved to its new home downtown.

       Over the years Oklahoma Art League has donated an impressive body of artwork to the OKCMOA as well as to other numerous Oklahoma museums and institutions. The Club has also given scholarships to enable students and artists to enhance their artistic skills, as well as a generous donation to the Capital Campaign for the new Oklahoma Contemporary Art Center building located at NW 11^th and Broadway.

For information about the Oklahoma Art League please email:

okartleague@gmail.com