Welcome to the Parlour

Artist Trueson Daugherty believes in the power of movement. It’s why he’s committed to taking a seat. And inviting others to do the same.

Welcome to The Parlour.

His living room isn’t what you’d expect behind a front door in Midtown Tulsa. It’s probably not what you’d expect behind most Oklahoma front doors this century.

Forget Kardashian and think Bennett. No Chip and Joanna Gaines. All Jane Austen.

There aren’t massive screens or sectionals or any cowboy chic. No big game or endless stream of housewife drama on. That’s not the vibe. That’s not the space.

When Trueson and his wife, Zia, open their door it’s a swan dive into the pages of Pride & Prejudice.

Candles and antique furniture and framed art and a ticking clock catch the eye or ear. That’s the vibe. That’s the space.

“It's, it's cool,” Trueson tells ASLUT. “And it's different. I like old things. I really like classical things. And I'm a fan of Jane Austen and costumes. It's just beauty.”


Even in this century, a living room turned parlour is practical.

“It's a cost effective way to decorate in a really cool way,” Trueson says. “Because a lot of this stuff is just old furniture. You just have to have an eye for color and color palettes and, you know, composition and design. As a designer it was easy for me.”

The design is an extension of his art. Important to his current practice self-described as ‘exploring identity and religion through a Classical/Baroque aesthetic.’

“Right now art is kind of my religion,” Trueson says. “So I try to live it, you know, like my life is performance art. So this room, or a room like this, helps me get into character for the character that I want to be in my life.

As much as the room speaks, it’s ultimately still intended for listening.

“The real reason that I wanted to do The Parlour was that I realized the things that are really important to me are the relationships I have in my life,” Trueson tells us. “Money comes and goes. You're gonna have jobs and success and failure, career fame, whatever. But if you don't have people that you really enjoy being around that enjoy you and are committed to the success of your life, it's kind of a dark place to be.”

So he lights candles and has conversations with people. Poets, painters, musicians, friends, family. The people he loves to be with. The people he loves to learn from.

Already a conversation from The Parlour has led Trueson beyond his patterned cushions and deep red drapery. Beyond Green Country.

After working on a project with Tulsa Artist Fellow Kalup Linzy, who Trueson views as a performance art pioneer, Trueson extended an invitation to come to The Parlour.

”He starts to explain to me who he is,” Trueson shares. “And then I start to realize, ’wow, you are literally doing or have done everything in your career that I ever hope to do.’”

The chat over coffee spilled into Trueson and Zia’s studio one interior wall over.

“His advice right there, completely changed everything to do with my work right now,” Trueson said.

Up to that point Trueson had had his work displayed across The Town in shows and venues, like the former Greenwood Gallery, Greenwood Rising and BlackMoon’s headquarters at WOMPA. After that Trueson was on the road to Miami.

In November, Trueson exhibited on the beach at Satellite Art Show during Miami Art Week 2022. He represented Tulsa, along with a coalition of current local artists, including Kalup.

“[The conversation with Kalup in The Parlour] completely changed the trajectory of my career as an artist, and this is what I could feel as the beginning of me moving into bigger and better things.”

Trueson wants The Parlour and the conversations from it to foster opportunities for other creatives.

“People come over and talk about art,” Trueson tells ASLUT. “Let's talk about why it's important. And what is the art you're doing? And how can we make that better? How can we make that happen? Who can we talk to? Who can I connect people to?”

It’s bigger than Trueson’s personal pursuit of art.

“It’s community building,” Trueson says. “To have a scene, no, not a scene, a movement. That's the thing I'm gonna like to share.”

Paris had Salon Carré in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Tulsa may have The Parlour today.

“The only way you can have an art movement is if you have a group of artists that are moving are all doing stuff together, and having an idea that's shared in common that everybody wants to do,” Trueson tells us. “To progress in art, I would love to be on the forefront here of history. I think Tulsa could do it if we as artists decided to band together for some kind of mission. Right?”

It’s not limited to one-on-one conversations or one location. In March, Trueson and Zia partnered with Origin Coffee to host Tulsa creatives for Coffee, Candles & Classical Music at The Parlour. In early April they took the vibes on the road for a weekend Parlour Pop Up at The Sobo. All leading up to Trueson hosting the return of Tulsa Creative Engine’s FREQUENCY on April 29.

From his antique wingback chair, Trueson is excited.

“That's the thing that I'm so stoked to be in Tulsa,“ Trueson says. ”It's like this little town. And we're on the cusp of this greatness. We’re about to cross a precipice as a community of creatives, creators and artists, where we will all be able to, you know, do it. 

To live the dream. Do the thing - have your cake and eat it too. Make the art that you want to make. And the world will give you a space to exist. I think that's ultimately all we want, as artists. Can I just make the art that I want to make? And just do that. I think that is the ultimate goal. And I think that if you're trying to get anything beyond that, you're gonna be disappointed as a creative.”

Welcome to the movement.

Experience The Parlour at FREQUENCY, returning on Saturday, April 29 from 7pm to 11pm in the iconic Philtower lobby in downtown Tulsa. See Trueson perform live as the host brings “Heavy Parlour Vibes” to the event.