Ashanti Chaplin has been named as the new Director of the Office of Public Art and Community Partnerships for the City of Tulsa, bringing more than 15 years of experience in arts administration, cultural leadership and civic engagement to the role.

Chaplin will lead the City’s efforts to embed public art into Tulsa’s built environment, support artist development, and foster partnerships that reflect the community. Chaplin will also provide strategic support and guidance to the Tulsa Arts Commission, and in collaboration with City departments, she will oversee public art projects. Additionally, she will lead the development of the first Creative Arts Master plan for the City of Tulsa.

Chaplin will begin in the position on Monday, September 8.

“Tulsa has a strong and growing creative community, and Ashanti’s leadership will help us coordinate our efforts in exploring opportunities for public art and increasing new projects throughout the city,” Mayor Monroe Nichols said. “Her background in large-scale public art initiatives, dedication to community partnerships, and passion for Tulsa make her a perfect fit for this role and I am eager to see what projects she helps bring to life.”

Chaplin is the co-founder of Central Standard, an exhibition and engagement platform that positions Tulsa as a vibrant hub for contemporary art. Her work often activates public space as a site for dialogue and cultural exchange. She specializes in curating site-specific projects that reflect diverse voices and deepen public connection to place.

"It is a deep honor to do this transformative work in my hometown. I have long envisioned Tulsa as being a national model for a thriving arts ecosystem rooted in cultural equity and civic imagination," Chaplin said. "Now, I have the privilege of helping build that future alongside the artists, cultural producers, residents, and local leaders who shape Tulsa’s spirit and story. Tulsa’s story belongs to all of us, and I’m excited to shape a public art landscape that amplifies our city’s resilience, supports cultural stewardship, fosters belonging, and brings creative expression into the heart of public life."

Chaplin is a Tulsa Artist Fellow alum and previously served as Curator of Art & Public Engagement at Dia Art Foundation, where she led celebrated artist-driven programs and was responsible for stewarding engagement with the institution’s globally recognized exhibitions, permanent collection, and site-specific works - including The Lightning Field, Spiral Jetty, and The New York Earth Room. She has also held key leadership roles with the Spencer Tunick Studio, Mickalene Thomas Studio, and the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office.

Chaplin holds an Ed.M. in Arts in Education from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education and a B.F.A. from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

For more information about the Office of Public Art and Community Partnerships, visit: cityoftulsa.org/arts.