New artwork brings color, connection to Lake Hefner Golf clubhouse

Published on September 15, 2026

Lake Hefner Golf Club has a colorful new addition to its clubhouse. Encuentro, a glass artwork created by artists Malina Cipleu and Ana Maria Nava, now fills the stairway leading to Maxwell's on the Lake, a restaurant on the second floor of the clubhouse.

Installed Sept. 9, Encuentro features layers of concentric glass forms that intersect and overlap across the stairwell walls.

“Encuentro means meeting, encounter, or gathering, and that idea of connection is at the heart of the piece,” said artist Malina Cipleu. “Inspired by the patterns of agricultural fields viewed from above, the overlapping forms suggest individual elements coming together to create something larger.”

Cipleu and Nava are an artist team whose work combines rhythm, pattern, and connection through glass art installations. Together, they have more than 20 years of combined experience creating public art. Cipleu grew up in Romania and is now based in Austin, while Nava is a glass artist based in Miami. Encuentro is their first public art commission with the City of Oklahoma City.

That idea of gathering extends beyond the artwork itself. The installation is part of the new 18,000-square-foot Lake Hefner Golf Club clubhouse, which opened in March 2026. The $11.8 million facility was funded through the Better Streets, Safer City 2017 General Obligation Bond program and includes Maxwell’s on the Lake, a full-service restaurant with panoramic views of Lake Hefner.

“We love that the artwork now lives in a place designed to bring people together,” said artist Ana Maria Nava. “That connection between the artwork and the people gathering around it is what makes this location so fitting.”

You don't have to be a golfer to enjoy it. No tee time or golf membership is required to dine at Maxwell's, visit the clubhouse, or view Encuentro. Located at 4491 S. Lake Hefner Dr., the clubhouse is open to the public from sunrise to sunset.

“Our municipal golf courses are public spaces, and we want them to offer something for everyone,” said Melinda McMillan-Miller, director of Oklahoma City Parks & Recreation. "Investing in clubhouses, restaurants and gathering spaces gives people more ways to enjoy these facilities, whether they're here to play 18 holes, have breakfast with friends or simply enjoy one of the best lakeside views in Oklahoma City."

The 59,000 artwork was funded through Oklahoma City's 1% for Art ordinance, which requires 1% of the construction budget for City buildings, parks, and trails to be set aside for public art, with residents involved throughout the art selection process. Artists interested in being considered for future public art projects can email okcarts@okc.gov. More information about the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs and the 1% for Art ordinance is available at okc.gov/arts.

About Lake Hefner Golf Club

Lake Hefner Golf Club is home to two 18-hole courses, a three-hole academy course and a driving range, all flanking Lake Hefner in northwest Oklahoma City. The club is one of five municipal golf courses owned by the City of Oklahoma City and managed by OKC Golf, which is operated by Oklahoma City Parks & Recreation. Maxwell's on the Lake is a full-service restaurant and bar on the second floor of the Clubhouse.

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