Center for Queer Prairie Studies In Conversation with Patrick Gordon

Tulsa Artist Fellowship, Philbrook Museum of Art, and the Center for Queer Prairie Studies present a special in-gallery conversation with artist Patrick Gordon, moderated by Karl Jones, founder of the CQPS.

Gordon’s first museum retrospective is on view, featuring over fifty paintings that span a career of more than fifty years. The exhibition features paintings spanning his earliest experiments in watercolor to his recent, large-scale, saturated florals alongside stirring, sensitive portraits that highlight the Tulsa community. Gordon helps us see how art, decoration, and everyday objects can tell powerful stories—sometimes quietly, sometimes boldly—about feeling seen, being at home, and celebrating who we are.

Patrick (ps) Gordon, born in 1953 in Claremore, Oklahoma, first gained recognition with his solo exhibitions starting in 1982 in New York City and Tulsa. Known for his contributions to the "New American Realism" with his vibrant and unique watercolor still lifes and portraits, Patrick transitioned to oil-on-canvas after moving to New York City in 2003, infusing his art with urban vibrancy and new perspectives. His works, which include earlier themes with fresh inspiration, are featured in prestigious galleries, museum shows, and collections across the U.S.

Karl Jones is an interdisciplinary artist, curator, and storyteller living and working in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Jones is currently completing his third year as an integration grant awardee within the Tulsa Artist Fellowship, a cultural initiative of the George Kaiser Family Foundation. Before returning to his hometown, Jones lived in Brooklyn and worked as a children’s books editor for Penguin Random House, publishing award-winning and New York Times best-selling artists, including Alok Vaid-Menon, Kimberly Drew, and Justin Elizabeth Sayre. Prior to his decade-long stint in publishing, Jones lived and worked in Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., where he curated public programming at the Walters Art Museum and hosted a series of queer performance and community events featuring artists such as Taylor Mac, Lesbians on Ecstasy, and Dynasty Handbag. While in Baltimore, Jones created an interactive puppet show and workshop series known as the Karl Marks Children’s Hour, which now features a collection of over 1,600 paper bag and construction paper puppets depicting historic figures and contemporary artists and activists. After returning to Tulsa, Jones created and is co-directing the fourth year of Goff Fest, an architecture festival reimagining the life and legacy of 20th-century queer architect Bruce Goff. His continued interest in underappreciated figures from the 2SLGBTQ+ Great Plains history led to the creation of the Center for Queer Prairie Studies, a parafiction exhibition, art collective, and 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization.

Philbrook Museum of Art is committed to being Tulsa’s most welcoming and engaging cultural institution, providing a unique trifecta of experiences: a historic home, world class art museum, 25 acres of gardens. Philbrook Museum of Art opened on October 25, 1939. The addition of a 70,000 square foot wing in 1990 turned the historic home into a modern museum complex. A major garden renovation in 2004 cemented the Museum’s reputation as “the most beautiful place in Oklahoma.” Through bold action and strategic investment, we create a space for new ideas, diverse stories and perspectives, and social connection. The Philbrook Collection features more than 16,000 objects with a focus on American, Native American, and European art. Serving over 160,000 visitors annually, Philbrook shines a light on Tulsa’s storied and complex past while building a diverse and creative vision of the city’s future

Tulsa Artist Fellowship’s third annual Open House, taking place from October 3-5, 2025, embodies our commitment to nurturing Tulsa and its visionary artistic practitioners. Programs foster interconnectedness through community care and collaboration.

Also check out other Arts events in Tulsa, Exhibitions in Tulsa, Festivals in Tulsa.