Founded by Tulsa-born curators Ashanti Chaplin and Lindsay Aveilhé, Central Standard is a contemporary art platform dedicated to amplifying visionary artists from Middle America and beyond. Our mission is to foster experimentation and exchange, connecting Tulsa’s creative ecosystem with the global art community through cutting-edge exhibitions, programming, and site-responsive projects. Central Standard positions Tulsa as a dynamic hub for contemporary art, expanding regional discourse and connecting contemporary artists and visionaries across geographies.

  • Ashanti Chaplin

    FOUNDER

    Ashanti Chaplin is an artist and cultural producer. She holds a Master of Education from Harvard Graduate School of Education and a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Chaplin served as the inaugural Curator of Public Engagement at Dia Art Foundation and is an alum of the Tulsa Artist Fellowship.

    Chaplin's work revolves around themes of reclamation, power, and transformation. Driven by a commitment to social justice, she navigates institutional frameworks—such as museums, academic spaces, and cultural organizations—to create innovative models of community engagement. Cultivating communities of practice that embrace authentic ways of learning, creating, and living is at the heart of her work. She brings a rich tapestry of knowledge and insight into her creative process, allowing her to envision and construct new worlds across mediums, disciplines, and audiences.

    As a cultural producer, she has collaborated with esteemed artists and organizations such as The Lowry in Salford, International Street Theatre Festival d'Aurillac, Greenpeace France, FKA Witte de With Center for Contemporary Art in Rotterdam, and the Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art.

    She has lectured and shared her critical insights with institutions such as the Studio Museum in Harlem, Rush Arts Foundation, Howard University, NYU, Hunter College, Princeton University, The New School, and Vassar College.

  • Lindsay Aveilhé

    FOUNDER

    Lindsay Aveilhé is a curator, writer, and arts advocate with over 15 years of experience in the U.S. and internationally. She is the Editor of the Sol LeWitt Wall Drawings Catalogue Raisonné and creator of the Sol LeWitt mobile app, developed in collaboration with Microsoft. Lindsay has curated exhibitions globally, including retrospectives at the Reykjavik Art Museum, and is a contributing author to Locating LeWitt: Between Mind and Body (Yale University Press).

    Since returning to her hometown of Tulsa in 2021, she has focused on community-driven curatorial practices, including curating The Soul is a Wanderer at Oklahoma Contemporary in 2023, highlighting Oklahoma-based artists. A co-founder of TNUA Collective, Lindsay collaborates on global interdisciplinary arts projects in places like Ghana, Italy, Mexico, and Nepal. Her curatorial approach emphasizes art as a powerful tool for connection and dialogue, fostering shared narratives within both local and international communities.

    She is currently a 25-27 Tulsa Artist Fellow.