For Immediate Release
Contact: Erin Hatfield, 405-437-8468
The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is pleased to announce that Oklahoma artist Matt Goad has been selected to create the art installation for DEQ’s new parking garage. The project is part of the Oklahoma Art in Public Places program which brings together state government agencies, artists, and local residents in the commissioning or acquisition of artwork. The artwork represents the history and values of the people of Oklahoma. The program was created to administer the Oklahoma Art in Public Places Act, which requires 1.5 percent of eligible state capital improvement budgets be invested in public art.
Goad was selected by the Oklahoma Art in Public Places Oversight Committee, comprised of directors or designees from specified state agencies and appointed artists, architects, engineers, and museum directors or curators.
Goad began his art career in the mid-1990s as a graphic designer and illustrator. Influenced by woodblock printing and its bold, hard-edged aesthetic, he developed his modern style that evolved into painting in the 2000s. Passionate about color, composition, and storytelling, Goad’s geometric approach guides viewers through layered, narrative-driven compositions. His art is part of numerous private and public collections worldwide, and he has been featured in a variety of art and design publications, websites, and documentary projects.
“I am very excited to have been the selected artist for DEQ's new parking garage facade. The high-profile location downtown near the Oklahoma City Memorial, as well as DEQ's mission which aligns with my own is what drew me to the project. I am looking forward to creating a piece with meaning that adds even more beauty to Oklahoma City's already vibrant downtown,” said Goad.
Demolition of DEQ’s parking garage started in early 2025 and is scheduled for completion in early 2027. The art piece will be located at the garage’s entrance facing 6th Steet in downtown Oklahoma City.
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