UCO Students Showcase Diverse Queer Art at Campus Exhibition

The National Organization for Women hosted a vibrant display of student-created paintings, mixed media, and photography.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 2:33am

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An abstract, minimalist illustration featuring jagged, overlapping shapes in shades of pink, purple, and teal, conceptually representing the themes of LGBTQ+ identity, artistic expression, and community.The Queer Art Show at UCO celebrated the diverse creative talents of LGBTQ+ students, fostering a vibrant community of self-expression.Edmond Today

The University of Central Oklahoma's National Organization for Women chapter hosted a Queer Art Show this week, featuring a diverse array of student-created artwork. The exhibition included paintings, mixed media pieces, and photography that explored themes of identity, nature, and personal growth. Student artists Charlie Staudt and Khaos Vex were among those who displayed their creative works, which ranged from $20 to $50 in price.

Why it matters

The Queer Art Show provided a platform for LGBTQ+ students at UCO to showcase their artistic talents and share their unique perspectives with the campus community. In a state that has faced ongoing debates around LGBTQ+ rights, the event represented an important opportunity for self-expression and visibility.

The details

The art pieces on display spanned a variety of mediums and subject matter. Staudt's paintings 'Through the Woods' and 'Over the Water' drew inspiration from the book 'Birds of America' and National Geographic photography. Vex contributed several works, including a painting of a red cat that was originally created for a 'bad art date' and a mixed media piece inspired by the Pisces zodiac sign. Another of Vex's paintings, depicting a girl with blue hair, was a work-in-progress they had been refining since middle school.

  • The Queer Art Show took place on Wednesday, April 10, 2026 at Thatcher Hall on the UCO campus.
  • The exhibition was hosted by the university's National Organization for Women chapter.

The players

Charlie Staudt

A student artist at the University of Central Oklahoma who displayed paintings inspired by nature and photography.

Khaos Vex

A student artist at the University of Central Oklahoma who showcased a variety of paintings and mixed media works exploring personal and astrological themes.

National Organization for Women

The student organization at the University of Central Oklahoma that hosted the Queer Art Show to provide a platform for LGBTQ+ student artists.

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What they’re saying

“The book is about an American artist who came to the Americas, who wanted to create pictures of all American birds. I'm very inspired by birds in general.”

— Charlie Staudt, Student Artist

“It was basically a bad art date that turned out to be a good painting.”

— Khaos Vex, Student Artist

“Years of progress of wanting to finish the painting and then not wanting to finish the painting until finally creating something out of it.”

— Khaos Vex, Student Artist

What’s next

The National Organization for Women plans to host additional Queer Art Shows in the future to continue providing visibility and a creative outlet for LGBTQ+ students at the University of Central Oklahoma.

The takeaway

The Queer Art Show at UCO demonstrated the vibrant artistic talents of the university's LGBTQ+ student community, offering a powerful platform for self-expression, community-building, and challenging societal norms around gender and sexuality.