Executive Director of the Tulsa Artist Fellowship, Carolyn Sickles supports a multidisciplinary community of creatives and champions the transformative power of art to diverse audiences. A creator herself, Sickles has featured her work in exhibitions around the country – including New York, Boston and Miami. She has also spent time hosting workshops and guest lecturing nationwide. We caught up with Sickles and got her thoughts on…
…her early interest in the arts.
I was fortunate to grow up in a family of creative practitioners who deeply believed in the power of the arts to expand our understanding of the world and one another. My parents intentionally surrounded me with diverse artistic experiences — museums, arts learning opportunities, and a public education that valued creativity. Those early moments shaped my fundamental belief that artistic experiences and art-making are for everyone. That belief set me on my path as both an artist and a community-rooted arts worker, dedicated to making space for every artistic voice — and now, my own multigenerational family lives, works and contributes here in Oklahoma, which makes this commitment even more meaningful to me.
…the experiences that have influenced her approach to supporting artists.
Throughout my career, I’ve worked at the intersection of art, community and place — leading contemporary art spaces, developing artist-centered programs and building civic partnerships that broaden access to the arts. These experiences taught me that supporting artists is about more than funding projects — it’s about fostering environments where artists and communities can grow together. That perspective continues to guide my work today: investing in artists as cultural citizens whose voices help shape vibrant, inclusive communities like the one my own family now calls home.
…the Tulsa Artist Fellowship and how it has evolved.
I was drawn to Tulsa Artist Fellowship because its mission so clearly aligns with my own values — and with the broader vision of the George Kaiser Family Foundation, which works to ensure that every person and family in Tulsa has the opportunity to flourish, regardless of their background. The Fellowship embodies this vision by addressing the unique challenges contemporary artists face, and by championing the arts as essential to healthy, resilient communities.
Under my leadership, we’ve strengthened Tulsa Artist Fellowship’s role as an art platform dedicated to supporting artistic voices statewide and from across the nation and fostering through project-based awards, presenting new work and public programs. We’re committed to working alongside Oklahoma’s welcoming and diverse communities — neighbors who represent a broad and vital audience for this work. And as someone whose own family is deeply invested in the progression, culture and health of this community, I take that responsibility to heart every day.
…TAF’s most significant contribution to the art world.
Showing what’s possible when a city invests deeply in artists as neighbors, cultural stewards and visionaries. We create conditions that allow artists to live and work sustainably here while building connections that reach far beyond Tulsa. Together with innovative partners, we’re helping position Tulsa as a home for contemporary arts practices. For me, this work is personal — my family and I are part of this community, and I’m proud to help shape a place where the arts strengthen the social fabric for everyone.
… what excites her about contemporary art.
I’m inspired by how contemporary artists are expanding what community engagement can look like — creating work that not only reflects our world but reshapes it. I see artists forging connections across disciplines, cultures and geographies, building networks of care and collaboration that transcend boundaries. That energy and urgency give me hope. It’s a reminder that artistic voices — when given space and support — are powerful drivers of social imagination and collective change.
…her creative outlets and how they inspire her.
My own arts practice remains an important touchstone for me. Making work reminds me of the vulnerability, experimentation and commitment that artists bring to every project. It keeps me rooted in the understanding that supporting artists means more than providing resources — it means creating an environment of trust, respect and possibility. That lived experience shapes how I advocate for artists and guide our work at Tulsa Artist Fellowship, and it mirrors how I hope to contribute to the broader creative life of the community I am pround to call home.
…what’s next for TAF.
We’re excited to continue strengthening Tulsa’s reputation as a dynamic place for contemporary art by nourishing and sustaining our city’s vibrant arts ecosystem. Together with innovative partners and our welcoming community of neighbors, we’re expanding opportunities that honor artistic freedom, support experimentation and push the boundaries of what’s possible. It’s an inspiring moment for Tulsa to shine as a city where artists are cared for and empowered — and where communities and artists thrive together through shared creativity and bold collaboration.
