The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is the opening venue for the national tour of “Gods and Heroes: Masterpieces from the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris.” Opening June 21, the blockbuster exhibition is organized by American Federation of Arts and the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris. The exhibition chronicles the history of one of Europe’s most celebrated and influential art academies, while showcasing a stunning array of French masterpieces. With works that span more than two centuries, the exhibition will provide visitors an intimate view of an institution that produced some of France’s most accomplished artists and left a profound impact on Western art.

“The legacy of the École des Beaux-Arts cannot be understated,” said Oklahoma City Museum of Art President and CEO, E. Michael Whittington. “Until World War II, Paris was the center of the art world, and generations of American artists made their pilgrimage to study at the École. To have this great collection with its star-studded cast of artists now coming to the United States is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the people of Oklahoma.”