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“Some of us calm the water, while others create waves… calm waters do not induce action, waves most definitely do.” – James Howard Fox
This spring, the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to present Creating Waves: The Architecture of James H. Fox, an exhibition that brings to light the rich legacy of an architect who believed deeply in the expressive power of structure, place, and personal connection.
Curated by Fox’s grandson, Joseph Stiles—a fifth-year architecture student at the University of Oklahoma—the exhibition is both a professional retrospective and a deeply personal tribute. Stiles was entrusted with stewarding the Fox archives in 2020, and this exhibition reflects years of care, study, and admiration.
Creating Waves: The Architecture of James H. Fox will be on view from March 31 through May 11, 2025, in the Gould Hall Living Room at the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture, located at 830 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019. An opening reception will be held on Monday, March 31, from 4:00 to 5:00 PM.
Olson Residence designed by Jim Fox. Courtesy of the James Howard Fox Collection.
James H. Fox (1939–2017) earned his Master of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma, where he studied under Herb Greene, Dean Vollendorf, and other figures of the American School who helped shape his thinking. From early projects like his OU master’s thesis, which explored tactile design for the visually impaired, to his bold residential and community projects across western North Carolina, Fox remained committed to architecture that responded to people, place, and process.
Through drawings, photographs, and models, Creating Waves traces Fox’s unique architectural path. Highlights include:
As both architect and grandson, the Creating Waves curator Joseph Stiles brings a unique lens to this exhibition. His passion for architecture and deep admiration for his grandfather’s legacy are woven into every detail—from the curatorial layout to the selected materials that reflect Fox’s belief in site-specific, structurally expressive design. After the exhibition, Stiles plans to gift the Jim Fox Archive to the University of Oklahoma’s American School Archive, which is part of OU Libraries’ Special Collections.
Stiles was guided in this effort by Faculty Advisor and Robert L. Wesley Faculty Fellow Christopher Loofs, with additional support from Fadi Kandalaft, Jerry Puckett, Stephanie Pilat, Angela Person, and many others.
The exhibition is made possible with support from the American School Strategic Priorities Fund, which continues to uplift and preserve the legacy of visionary architects like James H. Fox. Gibbs College is especially grateful to Sherry Faust for her leadership in developing the American School Strategic Priorities Fund and for her generous planned gift to protect and promote the legacy of the American School.
Featured Image (Top of Post): Photograph of the Vaughn Gazebo designed by Jim Fox and built in Highlands, NC. Ryan Karcher, Photographer. Courtesy of RKP, 2024.
Robert L. Wesley, a pioneering architect and beloved mentor, has died at age 88. A graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Wesley joined Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) in 1964 and became the firm's first Black partner in 1984. Throughout his career, he contributed to significant architectural projects while maintaining a strong commitment to civic engagement and professional mentorship.
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to celebrate a series of recent accomplishments by Dr. Jim Collard, Professor of Practice in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture, and Design, whose work continues to shape conversations around Indigenous economic development nationally and internationally.
University of Oklahoma Gibbs College of Architecture Dean Hans E. [PA1.1]Butzer returned to one of his most significant works on December 15, joining survivors and past and present board members for the groundbreaking of a $15.8 million expansion of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum.
