New “Howdy” mural welcomes visitors to the OKC Convention Center

Published on October 24, 2025

Local artist Nick Bayer, City of OKC officials and the Oklahoma City Convention Center celebrated the newest addition in the City's public art collection last night.

Rightfully titled, “Howdy,” the 17-by-20-foot mural pays homage to Oklahoma's roots with 16 repeating images of the state flower, Route 66 and more. “Howdy” can be seen in the first-floor lobby of the Oklahoma City Convention Center, located at 100 Mick Cornett Dr. The radial arrangement of imagery takes inspiration from the windmills commonly seen dotting the Oklahoma landscape. The mural's composition was inspired by Western wear embroidery.

“Howdy is a common Oklahoma greeting that can be heard across the entire state,” Bayer said. “It's a friendly way to welcome a guest, whether it's a visitor from out of town or your best friend. That is exactly what I want this artwork to be: a friendly hello to a passerby. Doesn't matter if you're from out of state or from around the corner, ‘Howdy’ is a friendly Oklahoma Hello.”

The mural was funded through Oklahoma City’s 1% for Arts program as part of the voter-approved MAPS 3 construction of the Oklahoma City Convention Center.

About Nick Bayer
Bayer, an Oklahoma resident, has been contributing to the creativity of Oklahoma as a working artist for over 15 years and has held multiple positions in the field of arts education during this time. Nick earned his BFA and M.Ed. from the University of Central Oklahoma and his MFA from Kansas State University. He is currently the owner and operator of Createco Studios. His award-winning murals can be seen throughout Oklahoma. He works to find ways to bring new audiences to art. The City of OKC has commissioned Bayer to create six projects since the adoption of the 1% for Arts ordinance.

About 1% for Arts
The 1% for Arts ordinance requires 1% of the construction budget for City of OKC buildings, parks and trails to be set aside for public art. The art selection process in OKC is resident-driven from beginning to end. From the initial selection committee meetings to final approval by the City Council, at least 30 residents and stakeholders are directly involved in the decision, along with an additional 10-20 advisors and City staff. Artists interested in learning how to be considered for art selection should email okcarts@okc.gov. Visit okc.gov/arts to learn more about the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs and the 1% for Arts Ordinance.

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