
Oklahoma State University, in compliance with Title VI
and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Executive Order
11246 as amended, and Title IX of the Education Amend-
ments of 1972 (Higher Education Act), the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other federal and state
laws and regulations, does not discriminate on the basis
of race, color, national origin, genetic information, sex,
age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disabili-
ty, or status as a veteran, in any of its policies, practices or
procedures. This provision includes, but is not limited to
admissions, employment, nancial aid, and educational
services. The Director of Equal Opportunity, 408 White-
hurst, OSU, Stillwater, OK 74078-1035; Phone 405-744-
5371; email: eeo@okstate.edu has been designated to
handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies.
Any person (student, faculty, or staff) who believes that
discriminatory practices have been engaged in based on
gender may discuss his or her concerns and le informal
or formal complaints of possible violations of Title IX with
OSU’s Title IX Coordinator 405-744-9154.
This publication, issued by Oklahoma State University
as authorized by the director of the OSU Museum of Art,
was printed at no cost to the taxpayers of Oklahoma.
#6412
Cover:
Leon Polk Smith, Untitled, 1954, opaque
watercolor and metallic paint on cardboard, 8 1/2
inches x 8 1/2 inches. Collection of Oklahoma
State University Museum of Art. Gift of Leon Polk
Smith Foundation.
Acknowledgments
The Museum is most grateful to the Board of the Leon Polk Smith Foundation
who made this generous gift of works on paper possible. Special thanks go
to Patterson Sims, President of the Foundation, and Maryanna Vermonte,
Registrar, Leon Polk Smith Foundation Collection for their knowledge
about the art and assistance with access to the online database of Leon
Polk Smith’s art. My deep gratitude to Senator Jonathan and Mrs. Nichols
for the loan of their Leon Polk Smith painting to the exhibition. Thanks
also to Dr. Taryn Chubb, Associate Professor of Art History and Director
of the Pogue Art Gallery at East Central University, Ada, OK, for giving
me access to University archival materials on Leon Polk Smith and for a
very informative discussion about the artist. Thanks to OSU photographer
Phil Shockley for coming to our assistance on very short notice to shoot
the images used in this essay. Art history master’s candidate Tiffany Sides
assisted with the research, and OSU Museum of Art Director Victoria R.
Berry provided me with a valuable sounding board for working out the
exhibition and brochure content.
Published on the occasion of the exhibition
Leon Polk Smith: Back to Oklahoma
Oklahoma State University Museum of Art
May 31 – September 3, 2016
Exhibitions and programs at the Oklahoma State University Museum of Art are supported by
OSU/A&M Board of Regents, OSUMA Art Advocates, and the Oklahoma Arts Council.
Designer: D. Mark Pennie, Assistant Director, Oklahoma State University Marketing
Photography: Phil Shockley, Oklahoma State University Marketing
Published by the Oklahoma State University Museum of Art
720 South Husband Street, Stillwater, OK 74074, USA
Tel. 405.744.2780 Fax 405.744.2800 www.museum.okstate.edu
© 2016 by Oklahoma State University Museum of Art and essayist.