Passing of Our Friend, Robbie Kienzle

We are sad to share the news of the passing of our friend, Robbie Kienzle. Robbie served as the City of Oklahoma City's Arts & Cultural Affairs Liaison and was in public service for over 24 years. Assistant City Manager Aubrey McDermid said, “It is hard to describe the enormous impact Robbie has had on our community. If you live here, work in Oklahoma City, or are just visiting, your experience has undoubtedly been enriched because of her work. When you think of the things we are proud of and celebrate in Oklahoma City, Robbie’s fingerprints are probably all over them. Robbie‘s vision, deep commitment and dedication, eternal optimism, and creative problem-solving tenacity made a myriad of public realm improvements and placemaking initiatives across the city possible. We are fortunate that Robbie invested her talents and career in advancing the arts, and making countless civic projects, neighborhoods, commercial districts, and streetscapes places that people will love for generations.”

Robbie devoted her career to the planning and development of placemaking and public art strategies that improve the vitality of public life and transform communities. Robbie started her career with the City as the Public Art Consultant for Oklahoma City’s first Metropolitan Area Projects (MAPS). She also coordinated neighborhood improvements through Oklahoma City’s Neighborhood Services Department, managed properties for the Department of Airports, and coordinated economic development programs for projects such as the Eastside Reinvestment Area and the Skirvin Hotel. She later facilitated downtown redevelopment through her work on projects such as the Film Exchange District Streetscape Enhancements, Project 180, and the new Oklahoma City Boulevard. She continued to develop and implement plans to reimagine and revitalize downtown through arts and culture initiatives and placemaking through the Skydance Bridge International Public Art Competition, Cultural Plan Implementation, and the Core to Shore Plan Implementation. 

Robbie’s passion for economic development, placemaking, and public art culminated in the creation of the City’s Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs in 2012. Now celebrating its 10^th anniversary, the Office oversees the Arts Commission, manages the 1% for Arts program, supervises collection care for over 200 public art assets, plans and implements public art and cultural plans, and provides technical assistance and training to a variety of constituents. During her tenure, Robbie led the creation of the Artist Support Study, the Collection Care Plan, the Community Arts Program Study for arts education, and the AMP UP OKC Art Master Plan. 

In her many placemaking and revitalization roles, Robbie facilitated the installation of over $18 million in public art projects. Notable projects include the Plaza Alley Walls in Plaza District (2014), the “Brothers in Arms” statue in Military Park (2017), “Virtual Sky” at the new Downtown Convention Center (2021), and “Taking Flight: Light as a Feather” at Scissortail Park (to be installed fall 2022).  In recognition of her achievements, Robbie was honored in 2018 with the Creative Placemaking Award by the Paseo Arts Organization and the 2022 Pendleton Woods Lifetime Achievement Award from OKC Beautiful. In 2021, Oklahoma City’s street art was ranked the best in the country by USA Today.

Robbie also served as Executive Director for the American Institute of Architects, Central Oklahoma Chapter from 1993-1996. Robbie will be missed by so many and our thoughts and prayers are with her family during this time.  

We will pass along service arrangements at a later date.