"The Reed Family: Doel, Jane and Martha" and "Chris Ramsay: A World View" opened July 28 at the Oklahoma State University Museum of Art.

The OSU Museum of Art is ready to welcome visitors back for the fall semester with these two new exhibitions opening Tuesday, July 28. Together, the exhibitions showcase two influential artistic legacies connected to OSU, inviting visitors to discover extraordinary beauty in familiar landscapes, everyday objects and the art of careful observation.

Presented in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Doel Reed Center in Taos, New Mexico, “The Reed Family: Doel, Jane and Martha” brings together the work of renowned printmaker and longtime OSU educator Doel Reed with that of his wife, Jane, and daughter, Martha.

“While Doel Reed is the most recognized member of the family, both Jane and Martha Reed were accomplished in their own right,” said Carla Shelton, associate director, museum collections and chief registrar at the OSU Museum of Art. “Jane worked in watercolor and drawing throughout her life, while Martha became a noted fashion designer under the label, ‘Martha of Taos’, drawing inspiration from the art and fashion of the Southwest. Together, they helped establish the Reed family as an important creative presence in Taos, a legacy that continues today through the Doel Reed Center.”

Opening alongside The Reed’s exhibition is "Chris Ramsay: A World View," on view through Nov. 21. This intimate exhibition features three intricate globe-like sculptures created in 1999 by artist and longtime OSU professor Chris Ramsay.

“Ramsay transformed ordinary, often overlooked objects into contemplative artworks that explored memory, time and the interconnectedness of people and the natural world,” Shelton said. “Rather than solely focusing on precious materials, he elevated found objects, including fossils, trinkets, knick-knacks, postcards and machine parts, giving them new meaning through thoughtful composition and meticulous craftsmanship.”

Visitors are encouraged to slow down and take in every detail. "Look at everything," Shelton said. "There is so much hidden in each piece. From the cheerful cherries on the stereograph stands to the tiny fossils embedded throughout the sculptures, every work deserves close attention."

"These exhibitions highlight two distinct but connected artistic voices at Oklahoma State University," Shelton said. "The Reed family and Chris Ramsay each transformed familiar subjects: the landscape, fashion and everyday objects, through thoughtful techniques and expert skill. Together, they celebrate OSU's rich history of creativity and artistic excellence."

The exhibitions also mark an exciting new chapter for the museum. Both are on view in the museum's new gallery spaces, which, along with the refreshed ArtLAB, create new opportunities for visitors of all ages to engage with art through exhibitions and hands-on creativity.

The museum will celebrate both of them during its Open House on Friday, Aug. 21, featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new gallery spaces and the refreshed ArtLAB and a reception beginning at 5 p.m. The event also commemorates the start of the fall semester and welcomes students, faculty, staff and the Stillwater community back to the museum.