Rebekah Danae: The Artist Putting Tulsa on the Map

In the heart of the Midwest, where the art scene is often overshadowed by coastal giants, Rebekah Danae is building something remarkable. As an artist and founder of A Creative House, Danae is setting up a new kind of arts hub that doesn’t just celebrate Tulsa’s creatives—it pushes them out onto a national stage. Her journey from art student to educator to community organizer to creative leader shows how powerful a local art movement can be, even (and maybe especially) when it’s happening in the Midwest.

At the heart of Danae’s work is A Creative House, a residency program that recently took eight Tulsa-based artists to Los Angeles. The goal? Get Tulsa’s talent the exposure they deserve. “It’s critical to develop the people that were born in our city and those who chose to invest here,” Danae says, acknowledging Tulsa’s quiet but vibrant creative undercurrent. “With that in mind, the Tulsa culture is (sometimes underground yet) alive and well, and I saw a desire among artists to represent our scene among the broader music, visual arts, and film global communities,” she tells ASLUT. This wasn’t just a trip to LA; it was a mission to prove that Tulsa’s artists belong in these conversations.

The impact was immediate. Some artists came back ready to dive into Tulsa’s art scene with fresh inspiration, while others took what they’d learned and set their sights on broader projects, energized by the LA experience. Danae describes the takeaway as “time, space, and resources in a nourishing environment.” It sounds simple, but it’s exactly what a lot of artists lack. Her initiative isn’t just about putting Tulsa on the map—it’s about building a sustainable way for artists to thrive locally and globally.

Danae’s personal career is no less impressive. This past October, she debuted SOLOngNOW, her first solo exhibition at Positive Space, a gallery that feels like it’s as much about community as it is about the art on the walls. For Rebekah Danae, this was a long time coming. Years ago, she didn’t feel her work or Tulsa’s exhibition spaces were quite there yet. Fast forward to 2024, and SOLOngNOW arrives as a mix of Southern imagery, surrealism, and large-scale oil paintings. With pieces like The Black Infinity Barn and The Red Rodeo Barn, Danae gives viewers an immersive look into modern Southern life, all while celebrating the layers and nuances of her own background. “This show was such a long time in the making. When I moved to Tulsa ten years ago, I aspired to have a solo exhibition and it wasn’t yet the proper time. My work wasn’t ready for an opportunity like that, I wasn’t particularly excited by the spaces that existed for exhibiting,” she says. It’s clear this exhibition is about both art and place, bringing Tulsa’s evolving culture into a shared experience.

Danae’s work is infused with the influence of Belgium, where she studied art, and Texas, where she honed her craft, but her creative anchor is firmly planted in Tulsa. She sees her work as part of a “co-created futurist Oklahoma,” where tradition meets innovation. It’s a bold vision for the state, one that defies regional stereotypes and showcases the artistry that’s happening far from the coasts. Tulsa isn’t just a backdrop; for Danae, it’s a crucial part of the story she’s telling.

And A Creative House isn’t slowing down. Danae’s next goal is to exhibit work from the LA residency in both Los Angeles and Tulsa, letting audiences in both cities see the impact of the program. She calls this “thoughtful movement and steady momentum,” a phrase that says a lot about how she approaches her work: with care, purpose, and long-term vision. Her aim is to keep Tulsa’s artistic voices alive and growing, and to do it sustainably.

On a personal level, Rebekah Danae’s own art practice continues to evolve. Fresh from her SOLOngNOW exhibition, she’s off to a new residency at Crystal Bridges in Bentonville, Arkansas, where she’ll develop work for the INVERSE performance art festival. Here, she’ll work with The Infinity Barn, a recurring theme in her pieces, delving deeper into themes of Southern life and identity. This residency feels like the next step in her journey, one that underscores her commitment to pushing boundaries while keeping her roots intact.

When talking about her role in Tulsa, Danae is refreshingly honest. “I hope to represent Tulsa’s culture in ways that are authentic to my story, my lived experience, while continually promoting artists in the scene who are doing amazing work,” she tells ASLUT. She’s dedicated to making sure Tulsa’s “diverse creative choir” has its moment, that the artists in her community are no longer sidelined but seen, appreciated, and understood for the rich narratives they bring.

Danae serves as a model for what’s possible in Tulsa’s creative scene and budding talents with larger aspirations. “Don’t take for granted the time and space we have in a place like Tulsa to focus on our craft, to develop our message, and hone our work. You can really dive into your practice while living a decent quality of life in Tulsa and find peers to collaborate with, folks to develop a relationship of critique with, and mentors to learn from,” she advises. Danae’s vision is that Tulsa artists can grow at home, venture out to expand their horizons, and return with fresh inspiration and strengthened networks. In this way, she becomes a bridge between Tulsa and the broader world of contemporary art, ensuring local talent doesn’t just stay grounded—they stay connected.

Rebekah Danae’s story is one of determination, vision, and community. Through A Creative House and her personal projects, she’s crafting a future where Tulsa’s art scene is no longer waiting for recognition but actively shaping it. For her, Tulsa isn’t just a hometown; it’s a creative frontier, ready to leave its mark on the art world.