UCO Melton Gallery hosted its first ever “Art in Bloom” event

Karla Brizuela

Contributing Writer

The Melton Gallery at UCO presented its first-ever “Art in Bloom” event, featuring floral arrangements by Brianne Bibb, a UCO alumna and owner of Felicity Flower Company.

 The event, held on April 3 and 4, featured three custom floral arrangements inspired by works in the “Expanding Expectations” exhibition. It allowed attendees to engage with art in a more unique way with the floral designs complimenting and enhancing the works in the exhibition.

“I hope people will see flowers as an art form in their own right, they are not just for decoration; they are pieces of art that tell a story and evoke emotions,” Bibb said.

Bibb’s floral pieces were inspired by the works of three contemporary artists: Andy Mattern, Paho Mann and Laurie Frick. Each arrangement was designed to reflect the themes and elements found in the artist’s works, providing a new perspective on the original pieces.

Bibb began her floral business, Felicity Flower Company, after discovering how much she loved creating with color and texture through floristry.

 “Working with flowers brought me back to my roots as an artist,” Bibb said. 

Her participation in “Art in Bloom” demonstrates the diverse career paths art alumni from the university can pursue. 

“I feel so honored to be part of this, coming back to UCO and having the opportunity to contribute to an event like this is such a special moment in my career,” Bibb said.

The UCO Melton Gallery is always trying to do something new and exciting, constantly bringing fresh ideas to the community. 

“Bri’s thoughtfulness in interpreting the pieces was incredible. She truly took the time to understand each work and translated that into something entirely new and exciting. It added another layer to our exhibition by blending the visual with the sensory,” said Keri Smith, the curator of galleries and collections at the University of Central Oklahoma.

“I love how Bri’s arrangements engage with my art in a dynamic way. It feels like they are part of a larger conversation between different art forms,” said Andy Mattern, one of the featured artists in the “Expanding Expectations” exhibit.

The “Expanding Expectations” exhibition is free and open to the public until April 18. It explores the intersection of traditional media and new technologies, featuring works in painting, photography, digital manipulation and data-driven art.

The gallery, located in the UCO Art and Design building, is open Monday to Thursday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.