Johnny Antonelli joined Oklahoma Contemporary as facilities maintenance associate in 2019. Beginning with inaugural exhibition Bright Golden Haze, he provides assistance to the Exhibitions department as an art handler and preparator, including supervising contracted assistants. Along with the senior facilities manager, he also oversees the maintenance of the 54,000 square foot facility and grounds and manages outside contractors.
Johnny began his preparatory career at Oklahoma City Museum of Art in 2010, bringing more than a decade of extensive carpentry and masonry experience from work with his family’s construction company. While at the museum, he received high recommendations for his delicate handling of artwork for numerous shows, including New York-based Jason Peters’ New Frontier and a large exhibition of Henri Matisse’s work from the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
Inspired by a ring passed down from his grandmother, Johnny took up silversmithing and pays homage to her and his Arapaho ancestry through the creation of jewelry, sculpture and art. He spends much of his spare time with his daughter, donating his art handling skills to Individual Artists of Oklahoma, and mentoring and sharing his knowledge with local diverse youth groups.
