A Black woman with long curly brown hair stands in front of a gift shop wall. She is dressed in a camo long-sleeve with a white lace dress underneath and a blue flat-bill hat on her head.

Iman Knox

Everything you need for the artsy folks in your life

As we approach the season of giving and gathering, sometimes the thought of buying gifts for the special individuals in your life can feel overwhelming. With this in mind, we sat down with Retail Coordinator Iman Knox to chat keeping it local through Shop Contemporary, key items to look for, treating us to tips and insight into the products offered.

Sit back, relax and follow along as Knox guides you through all of your shopping needs.

WARNING: We cannot guarantee that you won’t want to buy something for yourself, and rest assured we highly encourage it.

For the art lover:

It’s safe to say Shop Contemporary in its entirety is filled with hand-crafted, intentionally sourced goodies for any art lover in your life, however, Knox has narrowed it down to a select few that might do just the trick.

Four glass cups sit on cement. Three are grouped in a triangle while one lays on its side. The group of three are orange, red and blue colors, and the single glass is black.

"Cedric Mitchell has been an artist we’ve carried since the shop has been open in our new home, and his hand-blown glasses have been a fan-favorite among staff and guests."

Four exhibition catalogs lay on a cement surface. They are stacked on top of each other, fanned out. The top book shows a blue hued installation with the words BRIGHT GOLDEN HAZE written on the cover in gold

"Our catalogs feature in-depth reviews of our exhibitions and are a great coffee table or book shelf addition. It's like bringing the galleries into your home!"

Three pairs of earrings in wooden boxes sit on a cement surface. Two are out of frame; the one pair in frame is a dangling set of earrings on a black background. They are abstract shaped colors of yellow, pink, green, blue, black and white

"Polo&Storch is a design studio that hand-crafts all of their pieces in Mexico. Each of their earring styles are created through experimentation with color, shape and texture making for the perfect statement accessory."

For the cozy friend:

Their home is filled with cute and quirky knickknacks, there’s always freshly brewed tea or coffee, and they’ve got a cardigan for every occasion. You know which friend we’re talking about!

Two colorfully patterned woven blankets are sitting in a stack on a cement floor

"Popular for their vibrant colors and patterns showcased in their home goods, Dusen Dusen makes blankets for the artsy interior lovers."

Three bars of soap lay stacked on a cement surface. The top and bottom soap are a brown and reddish color with yellow flecks. The middle soap is a greenish gray color with yellow and dark brown flecks.

"Locally made in the heart of OKC, Sage & Elm hand-makes each soap with organic elements of nature. Though they look and smell delicious, they're not meant to munch."

Two mugs with matching saucers sit on a cement surface. On the left is a lavender colored mug, and on the right a white mug with black flecks.

"TUTU Home designs their wares with architectural concepts and design aesthetic in mind, with the intent to personalize and curate your home space."

For the fam:

Whether they’re on the go with children in tow or inviting you over for the next family function, these products will brighten up any adventure with the fam.

A clay-making kit sits on a cement surface. It shows an open cardboard box decorated in white abstract shapes. Inside the box are two white pouches with an orange label that reads CERAMIC CLAY. On the ground around the box are tools and a colorful card

"Made eco-friendly and cruelty free are some of the perks of kits from Pottery with a Purpose. Each kit includes a detailed instruction manual and all the necessary tools you’ll need to create your one of a kind pottery piece."

Two puzzle boxes sit stacked on top of each other against a cement surface. They are filled with vibrant colors and abstract shapes, bordered in bright yellow with the words LE PUZZ written in black block text at the top.

"Le Puzz is a puzzle brand using inspiration from vintage art illustration, often incorporating quirky copy and shapes to emphasize a fun puzzle-solving experience."

Art-making tools lay on a cement surface. On the left is a blue envelope with yellow and white doodles on the front and text that reads REUSABLE PAPER. To the right is black sheets, a box of markers and scattered crayon-like coloring sticks.

"Jaq Jaq Bird is an AAPI-owned children’s brand featuring conscious and travel-friendly art-making activities for young aspiring artists. Their ButterStix® chalk is dust-free, providing a smooth and less-mess drawing experience for kiddos and adults."

Consider your gift list covered, friends! Swing by the shop during gallery hours, or check out available product online 24/7. Happy shopping!

Images:

Shop Contemporary.

Retail Coordinator Iman Knox.

Cedric Mitchell's cocktail glasses.

John Newsom: Nature's Course, Ed Ruscha: OKLA, La casa que nos inventamos: Contemporary Art From Guadalajara and Bright Golden Haze exhibition catalogs.

Polo&Storch earrings.

Dusen Dusen blankets.

Sage & Elm Apothecary soaps.

TUTU Home "Drapeau" Taro Purple and Oreo Speckled Mug Set.

Pottery with a Purpose's Hot Cocoa + Clay Pottery Kit.

Le Puzz's Wet Paint and Field Day puzzles.

Jaq Jaq Bird's Reusable & Erasable Paper 10 pack, Wishy Washy Markers and ButterStix®.

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