The Stillwater Arts Festival is a community celebration of the visual arts that brings together a diverse range of local and regional artists at the Prairie Arts Center in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The 2026 Stillwater Arts Festival will take place April 17–18, 2026.
This year, our annual spring community exhibition draws inspiration from OSU Museum of Art’s Guild Hall: An Adventure in the Arts, which highlights more than 127 years of work united by a shared sense of place and artistic dialogue. In response, we invited local artists and community members to create works inspired by Stillwater, then passed those pieces on to others as creative prompts. The result is a chain of artworks in conversation—connected by shared colors, textures, landscapes, and interpretations of place.
Inside the Prairie Arts Center, guests of all ages can participate in free, hands-on art making activities throughout the weekend. In addition, festival goers can take part in Raku Firing ($10 per bowl). Prairie’s pottery studio instructors and students have created bowls for visitors to glaze using the ancient raku technique. Instructors will be on hand to help participants choose glazes and firing materials and to guide them through the firing process.
In addition to festival activities at the Prairie Arts Center, visitors can explore special programming throughout the Stillwater Cultural District, including offerings from OSU Museum of Art, Block 34, Stonecloud Brewing Company, Stillwater Public Library, and Stillwater History Museum at the Sheerar. Local food trucks will be on-site, and the Stillwater Farmers Market joins us on Saturday morning.
This event is made possible through the generous support of the Stillwater Arts Council, Oklahoma State University, Visit Stillwater, and the City of Stillwater. Their continued dedication helps ensure the festival remains a valued community tradition.
Regional Artists
My work is created with fine point pen and watercolor, often juxtaposed on vintage library materials and focuses on the nature found in Oklahoma to further illustrate the book titles on the papers.
I am a woodturner who specializes in segmented turning, often creating very detailed patterns using a variety of domestic and exotic woods for the patterns.
Analog Medium format slide film capture, shot on 1970s Bronica. Limited edition archival pigment prints on fine art paper, printed by artist. Unstaged unaltered images. Cohesive academic body of work
I use a Canon R6 MKII mirrorless camera with a standard 25-15 mm and a 150-600mm telephoto lens to take my photos. The photos are printed on archival paper and coated to extend the life of the photo.
My work is inspired by discarded skateboards, wood off-cuts, and fallen trees. I combine these into inventive, Zero-Waste Art pieces that are often infused with my love of Mid-Mod & Pop Art.
Original art that is placed on an actual dictionary page that can be up to 150 years old. The art relates to the words on the page. I have originals, prints, wearable art and triptychs.
Hand-fabricated, metalsmithed, and beaded jewelry made with .925 Sterling Silver, 14kt Gold Filled, lapidary cabochons(some collected, some made by me), semi-precious stones, glass, and pearls.
My abstract mixed media uses glass, resin, dye, and acrylic on wood panel to mimic crystals and evoke cosmic atmospheres and aerial landscapes shaped by fluid motion, depth, and layered texture forms.
Kathy Shann
Jewelry metals, inlay work
Annie has been working with blown glass for about ten years, focusing primarily on vessels and fine drink ware as well as one of a kind seasonal items utilizing cane/murrine in her designs.
Art photography consisting of large format to small canvas, custom framed prints, matted prints. Wildlife, cityscape, farm related, etc... All photos taken within the state of Oklahoma.
Ron Walker, OK
I create unique ceramic pieces using a variety of techniqiues. Including locally sourced clay, raku firing, sagger firing and cone 6 stoneware. Techniques in clude wheel thrown, slab built and coil
Acrylic on canvas, and prints of original work.
Sherri Arthur, OK
Fused glass and hand painted glass jewelry.
Functional art work such as pens, bowls, cutting boards, utensils, etc.
Daniel/ Jorge Schemel/Fernandez, TX
Each piece is individually handcrafted. Our wooden cases go through 7 different sand paper sizes to get a natural finish. We find scraps of materials from furniture places to minimize waist.
Maranda Loughlin's work is centered around creating handmade ceramic jewelry that is rooted in place. Her earrings hold a variety of different styles including: wind chimes, boots, and statements.
I cut, hammer, form, stamp and solder sterling silver into creative, simple and elegant earrings, rings and pendants. I set semi-precious stones in sterling silver and sometimes use gold to accent .
I explore structure, attachment & light with sheet & wire using an adapted basket weaving technique and solve questions of relational attachment & scale. Each piece hand fabricated from…
Don Tran, MO
Hand stitched with colourful silk threads on black cotton. I started by drawing outlines of image with gel pen, then the shading or blending of colours, I just create from mind while I hand embroider
Hand and digitally drawn anthropomorphized cats based on famous paintings and photographs, laser-engraved on wood and hand-painted with acrylics and enamel paints
Hand blown glass sculpted in the flame of a torch
We use a variety of metals (primarily silver) to hand fabricate or cast our jewelry & then hand select unique gemstones and curiosities from nature to showcase in the handcrafted creations.
Miki Oliver, TX
I create glass panels ready to hang. I use many different types of color and textures to create one of a kind art to et the light shine.
I use several different clays to hand build functional and whimsical pottery.
My acrylic paintings are usually described as whimsical. I love bright colors and subjects that make the viewer giggle. I’m a kid at heart & inspired by the love of God and the beauty of His…
Utilizing India inks, stencils, spray paint and linoleum block print to create vibrant prints.
Ceramics are an outlet for the creative mind. Using various techniques to portray that creativity, I am a hand builder who uses my talent to create pieces of pottery that can be used in everyday life…
Hand forged metal items for home and business. Ranging from wall art to gates and railings.
My pieces include both functional and nonfunctional stoneware fired to cone 6. Finishes include oxide washes, underglazes, and cone 6 glazes.
My abstract artwork features acrylic paint and mixed media on canvas, wood, or paper. Depth and dimension through use of charcoal, texture and collage invites viewers into an immersive experience.
Pokeberry Paper paints colorful nature inspired pieces of art, on handmade/recycled paper she creates in her home studio.
I am a linocut printmaker. I hand carve original designs into rubber linoleum and hand print these designs on art prints, greeting cards, tote bags, book marks, and t-shirts.
Acrylic paint on canvas using layered brushwork and blending techniques to create depth, texture, and vibrant color.
Tandi Memmott - OK
My pieces include both functional and nonfunctional stoneware fired to cone 6. Finishes include oxide washes, underglazes, and cone 6 glazes.
Zi Li, OK
Hand-thrown clay works, inspired by nature and Asian aesthetics, celebrating the beauty of modern life.
Fine art archival photographic prints (framed and unframed) signed by the photographer
Original fine-art photography. Images are digitally captured, artist-edited, and produced as archival pigment prints using professional printing processes.
Larry Tallent, OK
Handmade sterling silver and 14k gold jewelry with natural stones.
Vendors
Pin-back buttons and framed prints made from recycled book illustrations and original designs.
Alchemy Arts
We grow herbs and flowers, distill the plants to make hydrosols and essential oils. Those are used as ingredients for beard oil, salves, hydrosol wellness sprays and essential oil roller…
Caricatures by Dorinda, LLC
Caricatures drawn live in black and white or color with professional markers.
Conversations with Place and Each Other: A Stillwater Artists' Salon
This year, our annual spring community exhibition takes its inspiration from OSU Museum of Art's current exhibition, Guild Hall: An Adventure in the Arts. This exhibition features works spanning over 127 years of production, all by artists inspired by the East End of Long Island, a place known for its extraordinary light, coastal landscapes, and a vibrant and supportive community of artists. There are many styles, mediums, movements and artistic visions represented but what binds them together is place. And bound as they are by place, they are also bound to one another, artworks influencing artworks and artists conversing, sometimes across time, with one another about their craft and their love of place.
So, in conversation with the exhibition, we decided to see what would happen when we asked local artists and community members to make works inspired by Stillwater. And what would happen next if those first artworks were passed on to act as inspiration for another group of artists? Which works would be in conversation? Which artists would share a spark about Stillwater- the same color, or texture, a shared view of the landscape, or a just a feeling?
Artwork by pastel artist Jude Tolar.
Art Making Activities
Friday, April 17th
12:30pm - 7pm Screenprinted Tattos
Prairie staff will once again be inside with an array of temporary tattoo options for all festival goers. We use temporary, non-toxic ink.
3pm - 7pm Raku Firing ($10 a bowl)
Prairie's pottery studio instructors and students have been making bowls for you to glaze using the ancient technique of raku. Instructors will be on hand to help you pick glazes, firing material, and to guide you through the experience. Raku pottery is not food safe.
1pm - 7pm FREE Art Making Activity
Festival goers will have the opportunity to spend time with this year's community exhibition, Conversations with Place and Each Other, and create one or more trading card size, mixed media artworks that respond to the themes and works in the exhibition. Participants are encouraged to leave one of their works behind to be included in the exhibition! This project will be attended by OSU Museum of Art and Prairie Art Center staff members and is free for all and beginner friendly.
Saturday, April 18th
11am - 5pm Screenprinted Tattos
Prairie staff will once again be inside with an array of temporary tattoo options for all festival goers. We use temporary, non-toxic ink.
11am - 5pm Raku Firing ($10 a bowl)
Prairie's pottery studio instructors and students have been making bowls for you to glaze using the ancient technique of raku. Instructors will be on hand to help you pick glazes, firing material, and to guide you through the experience. Raku pottery is not food safe.
10am - 5pm FREE Art Making Activity
Festival goers will have the opportunity to spend time with this year's community exhibition, Conversations with Place and Each Other, and create one or more trading card size, mixed media artworks that respond to the themes and works in the exhibition. Participants are encouraged to leave one of their works behind to be included in the exhibition! This project will be attended by OSU Museum of Art and Prairie Art Center staff members and is free for all and beginner friendly.
THANK YOU
A Heartfelt THANK YOU to Our Incredible Supporters!
This festival simply would not be possible without the generosity and dedication of so many people, and we are so grateful for each and every one of you.
A special thank you to The City of Stillwater, Visit Stillwater, and the Stillwater Arts Council for guiding and supporting us through the entire process of the festival. The City of Stillwater helps set up the festival around our space and works hard to spread the word to the community. Visit Stillwater equally supports getting the word out about the festival and provides grant funding that helps us cover marketing materials and food for our artists. Together, their partnership and commitment year after year is the reason this festival has continued to thrive for so many years.
We are so grateful for Mitchell Alcala, who generously volunteered his photography services across both days of the festival. His beautiful photos capture the spirit and energy of the event, and we are lucky to have his talent behind the lens preserving these memories for years to come.
A delicious thank you to Hideaway Pizza for donating lunch for our artists on Saturday, and to HTea0 for keeping everyone refreshed with tea throughout both days — your generosity means the world!
To all of the artists who donated artwork to our exhibition this year — thank you for sharing your creativity and passion with our community.
And last but absolutely not least — a huge thank you to the students and instructors here at the Prairie Arts Center. You stepped up in so many ways, and your support and enthusiasm make all the difference.
Without all of you, none of this would be possible. THANK YOU!
