Intro
StaffStaff
Julia Kirt
Executive Director
As Executive Director since 1999, Kirt has worked to create resources for rural, urban, emerging and experienced artists and transform Oklahoma’s valuation of artists. She was honored as the “Emerging Leader” by the Americans for the Arts in 2008 and participated in the 2009 Leadership Institute organized by the National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture funded by The Andy Warhol Foundation. Kirt completed an MA in Art History at the University of Oklahoma and earned a BA in Communication Studies from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN.
Contact For: 12x12 Art Show & Sale, Exhibitions, Art Studio Tour, Grants & Fellowships
Kelsey Karper
Associate Director
Karper came to the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition in 2006. As editor of OVAC’s bi-monthly publication Art Focus Oklahoma, she works to promote the art and artists of Oklahoma and to develop audience interest in the arts. Karper also organizes OVAC's Artist Survival Kit program, offering professional development for artists all over the state. She manages all marketing and public relations for the organization. Karper received her BFA in Photographic Arts from the University of Central Oklahoma and continues her photographic work in historic and alternative processes.
Contact for: Art Focus Oklahoma, Artist Survival Kit, Media Inquiries
Samantha Still
Volunteer & Office Coordinator
Samantha Still joined the OVAC team in July 2011. She is interested in the unique character of contemporary art in America and is dedicated to promoting Oklahoma artists on local and national levels. Still received her BA and MA in Art History from the University of Oklahoma. Her scholarly interests include material culture studies, historical revisionism and contemporary Native American art. Besides working at MAINSITE Contemporary art gallery in Norman, she interned with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, and Kirkpatrick Family Fund.
Contact for: Volunteer Info, Internships, General Inquiries
Stephanie Ruggles Winter
Program Assistant
Winter has served as Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition’s Program Assistant since 2001. She has built the Virtual Gallery to include over 450 artists and manages the more than 1,000 OVAC memberships. Winter received her BFA in Graphic Arts from University of Central Oklahoma. She is a painter and mixed media artist.
Contact for: Membership, Virtual Gallery
Romy Owens
Event Production Coordinator
Current Interns
Lauren Kubier
Laura Reese
Staff Portraits by: Emma Ann Robertson
Julia Kirt
Executive Director
As Executive Director since 1999, Kirt has worked to create resources for rural, urban, emerging and experienced artists and transform Oklahoma’s valuation of artists. She was honored as the “Emerging Leader” by the Americans for the Arts in 2008 and participated in the 2009 Leadership Institute organized by the National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture funded by The Andy Warhol Foundation. Kirt completed an MA in Art History at the University of Oklahoma and earned a BA in Communication Studies from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN.
Contact For: 12x12 Art Show & Sale, Exhibitions, Art Studio Tour, Grants & Fellowships
Kelsey Karper
Associate Director
Karper came to the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition in 2006. As editor of OVAC’s bi-monthly publication Art Focus Oklahoma, she works to promote the art and artists of Oklahoma and to develop audience interest in the arts. Karper also organizes OVAC's Artist Survival Kit program, offering professional development for artists all over the state. She manages all marketing and public relations for the organization. Karper received her BFA in Photographic Arts from the University of Central Oklahoma and continues her photographic work in historic and alternative processes.
Contact for: Art Focus Oklahoma, Artist Survival Kit, Media Inquiries
Samantha Still
Volunteer & Office Coordinator
Samantha Still joined the OVAC team in July 2011. She is interested in the unique character of contemporary art in America and is dedicated to promoting Oklahoma artists on local and national levels. Still received her BA and MA in Art History from the University of Oklahoma. Her scholarly interests include material culture studies, historical revisionism and contemporary Native American art. Besides working at MAINSITE Contemporary art gallery in Norman, she interned with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, and Kirkpatrick Family Fund.
Contact for: Volunteer Info, Internships, General Inquiries
Stephanie Ruggles Winter
Program Assistant
Winter has served as Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition’s Program Assistant since 2001. She has built the Virtual Gallery to include over 450 artists and manages the more than 1,000 OVAC memberships. Winter received her BFA in Graphic Arts from University of Central Oklahoma. She is a painter and mixed media artist.
Contact for: Membership, Virtual Gallery
Romy Owens
Event Production Coordinator
Current Interns
Lauren Kubier
Laura Reese
Staff Portraits by: Emma Ann Robertson