The Oklahoma Arts Council has received the largest gift in the history of the Oklahoma State Art Collection: ten works by influential Native artists from The Howard L. and Mary Ellen Meredith Collection, donated by America Meredith and Samonia Byford in honor of their parents. The donated works include pieces by Benjamin Harjo Jr., Norma Howard, Vanessa Paukeigope Jennings, Ruthe Blalock Jones, Shan Goshorn, Doc Tate Nevaquaya, Jane Osti, Juanita Pahdopony, Jeri Redcorn, and Dick West. The artworks are now on display in the Betty Price Gallery at the Oklahoma State Capitol, alongside two other recent acquisitions.
This donation matters because it significantly enriches the state's official art collection with works by Native artists who have deep ties to Oklahoma, ensuring their cultural and artistic legacies reach new audiences. The gift also highlights the role of private collectors in preserving and promoting Indigenous art within public institutions, setting a precedent for future donations and reinforcing the importance of representing diverse artistic voices in state collections.