OU Instructor, Sculptor Helps Shape OU’s Visual Landscape

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NORMAN, OKLA. – For over 25 years, Sohail Shehada has helped shape the visual landscape of the University of Oklahoma’s campus. As a sculpture and drawing instructor in the School of Visual Arts, he has created an impressive body of work, including more than 15 sculptures on OU’s Norman campus and many private and public commissions.

Shehada’s sculptures are located all around the OU campus, including at Bizzell Memorial Library, Jacobson Hall, the College of Law, the Oklahoma Memorial Union, David L. Boren Hall, T. Howard McCasland Field House and the Michael F. Price College of Business, as well as numerous sculptures in public and private collections throughout Oklahoma. 

Shehada engages in various fine art forms but primarily focuses on painting, drawing and sculpture. “Whether it is a sculpture, painting or drawing, they are all connected,” he said.

His research centers on African art and Australian Aboriginal art. During visits to Australia, where his family lives, he explores the physical processes and psychological concepts behind Australian Aboriginal abstract forms. He notes that the time spent in the Australian countryside has strengthened his connection with nature and significantly transformed his approach to creating art.

Because of those trips, Shehada’s work has evolved from a focus on central figures to a more abstract, landscape-inspired style. “The diverse elements of Australian nature – the colors, textures, environment and wildlife – are unlike anything I have encountered elsewhere and have profoundly influenced my work,” he said.

While flying over Australia, he noticed certain landmarks and bodies of water resembling jewels from costume jewelry, which inspired him to incorporate ornamental elements into his art. “The ornamental qualities of jewels harmonize with the delicate patterns of Australian Aboriginal art and provide an authentic way for me to express my personal tastes and experiences while honoring the cultural significance of this art style,” Shehada said.

During 2024, Shehada produced a diverse range of work. Most recently, he created a 6-foot sculpture of inventor and philanthropist Michael F. Price now permanently displayed outside the Price College of Business. Other contributions include art for the Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics, a sculpture of civil rights pioneer and legal trailblazer Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher at the College of Law displayed on a pedestal along with her portrait, and two works for a national conference.

Today, Sohail is sculpting a portrait of an Australian humanitarian known for her work with special needs children.

Shehada continues to teach sculpting and drawing while developing and offering new courses. He has revised curricula, incorporating new elements in mold-making and casting for sculpture, and introducing non-traditional materials in drawing courses. He has developed and taught new courses such as “Drawing in the Theater” and “Introduction to African Aesthetics,” which offers insights into the cultural significance of African masks.

Shehada’s lifelong passion for theater strongly shapes his art. “Theater, in many ways, feels like a blend of fantasy and reality – a framework for better understanding humanity. This is why it consistently serves as a source of inspiration for my work,” he said.

Shehada earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Oklahoma State University, a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Fine Arts from OU. He is an associate professor of figurative sculpture and drawing at the School of Visual Arts and an adjunct professor in the Clara Luper Department of African and African American Studies.

To learn more about the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts, visit ou.edu/finearts. To learn more about the Clara Luper Department of African and African American Studies in the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences, visit ou.edu/cas/afam.