photo of The Bob Dylan Center
Photo: Matthew Millman

The Bob Dylan Center

Tulsa, Oklahoma

The Bob Dylan Center

Tulsa, Oklahoma

  • Design Principal

    Alan Maskin

Dedicated to the study and appreciation of Bob Dylan and his worldwide cultural significance, the new Bob Dylan Center traces the creative trajectory of this prolific artist across his 60-year career. Located in the Tulsa Arts District, the Center is envisioned as a dynamic, multifaceted venue, housing permanent, temporary and traveling exhibitions readily accessible by artists, historians, musicologists, and the general public seeking a deeper comprehension of Dylan’s work, his influences and the offshoots inspired by his legacy.

Olson Kundig was selected throughout an international design competition. The firm’s winning entry was focused on the notion of Bob Dylan as a “Master of Change.” Understanding Dylan’s life and career as a portrait of transformation, Design Principal Alan Maskin envisioned the new Bob Dylan Center as the embodiment of continual change, from the building’s architectural approach to its exhibit design and rotating installations.

The new Bob Dylan Center also serves as the primary public venue for The Bob Dylan Archive, a collection of more than 100,000 items spanning handwritten manuscripts, notebooks and correspondence, films, videos, artwork, memorabilia and original studio recordings. While the Archive’s permanent repository is open only to qualified researchers and scholars, a linear gallery wall and interactive display features nearly 100 items from the collection for visitors to explore.

I’m more interested in this as a living archive than as a museum. Museum implies a voice that everyone accepts as truth.  Alan Maskin
I’m glad that my archives, which have been collected all these years, have finally found a home. Bob Dylan

Team

Awards

2023

2023 Oklahoma Museums Association Awards, Outstanding Exhibit (Columbia Records Gallery)

2022

Architect’s Newspaper Best of Design Awards, Editor’s Pick, Exhibition Design Category

Interior Design Best of Year Awards, Winner, Exhibition Category

Publications

2022

Baran, Michelle. “Bob Dylan Museum Debuts in Tulsa.” AFAR Magazine Online, 9 May. 2022. Web.

Barandy, Kat. “olson kundig weaves together the complex life and work of bob dylan in tulsa.” Designboom, 23 May 2022. Web.

Bauder, David. “How does it f-e-e-e-e-l? Bob Dylan museum opening in Tulsa.” ABC News Online, 6 May 2022. Web.

Bauder, David. “How does it f-e-e-e-e-l? Bob Dylan museum opening in Tulsa.” Associated Press Online, 6 May 2022. Web.

“Bob Dylan Museum Opening in Tulsa.” Billboard Online, 6 May 2022. Web.

“Bob Dylan Center / Olson Kundig.” ArchDaily, 5 Aug. 2022. Web.

“Bob Dylan Center opening in Oklahoma to feature song archives, stories behind the music.” PBS Online, 6 May 2022. Web.

“Bob Dylan Center Tulsa.” e-architect, 8 Jun. 2022. Web.

“Bob Dylan Center, un recinto para celebrar el universo dylaniano.” Fahrenheit Magazine, 5 May 2022. Web.

Braga, Sonia. “Bob Dylan Center, il primo museo dedicato all’artista premio Nobel.” AD Italia, 4 Jul. 2022. Web.

Brinkley, Douglas. “An Exclusive First Peek at the Bob Dylan Museum.” Vanity Fair Online, 21 Apr. 2022. Web.

Brinkley, Douglas. “Mr. Dylan’s Dream House.” Vanity Fair, May 2022, 40-41. Print.

Dalzell, Rebecca. “A Complete Unknown.” Interior Design, Sep. 2022, 15, 17, 86-93. Print.

Dalzell, Rebecca. “Olson Kundig Offers a Fresh Narrative on the Life of Bob Dylan for a Center Honoring His Work.” Interior Design Online, 7 Sep. 2022. Web.

“Digging Into Bob Dylan and Lou Reed’s Archives.” New York Times Popcast, 15 Jun. 2022. Podcast.

Elengical, Jerry. “Olson Kundig’s Bob Dylan Center peers into the enigmatic life of a cultural icon.” STIRworld, 24 Jun. 2022. Web.

Gunts, Edward. “Olson Kundig transforms Tulsa warehouse into museum devoted to the life and work Bob Dylan.” The Architect’s Newspaper Online, 18 May 2022. Web.

Hinchliffe, Emma. “Olson Kundig designed Bob Dylan Center opens in Tulsa.” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 18 May 2022. Web.

Keskeys, Paul. “Olson Kundig’s Bob Dylan Center Blends Beautiful Architecture With Sophisticated Exhibition Design.” Architizer, 25 Jun. 2022. Web.

Marcus, Lilit, Forrest Brown, Julia Buckley, Karla Cripps, Tamara Hardingham-Gill, Marnie Hunter, Barry Neild, Maureen O’Hare and Francesca Street. “Where to travel 2022: The best destinations to visit.” CNN Travel, 4 Jan. 2022. Web.

Marie-Casas, Anna. “The times they are a-changin’ – The Bob Dylan Center.” Designerati, 13 Jul. 2022. Web.

Martin, Jeff. “Tulsa Is in the Midst of a Massive Cultural Renaissance.” Architectural Digest Online, 10 May 2022. Web.

McDonnell, Brandy. “Bob Dylan Gets His Own Museum: Everything You Should Know About The Oklahoma Attraction.” USA Today Online, 8 May 2022. Web.

Milesi, Sanzia. “Gli archivi del menestrello.” Abitare Online, 21 Sep. 2022. Web.

Milesi, Sanzia. “The Minstrel’s archives.” Abitare Online, 21 Sep. 2022. Web.

Morby, Alice. “Olson Kundig Completes Major Bob Dylan Museum in Tulsa.” Hypebeast, 23 May 2022. Web.

Morris, Lauren Grace. “An Oklahoma Museum Presents Bob Dylan’s Music as a Spatial Experience.” FRAME, 19 Jul. 2022. Web.

Sisario, Ben. “Dylan’s Secrets For You to See.” The New York Times, 7 May 2022, C1, C6. Print.

Sisario, Ben. “The $10 Million Bob Dylan Center Opens Up His Songwriting Secrets.” The New York Times Online, 5 May 2022. Web.

Stouhi, Dima. “Olson Kundig Transforms Abandoned Warehouse into a Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa.” ArchDaily, 22 May 2022. Web.

Sunil, Nikitha. “The Bob Dylan Center built by Olson Kundig in collaboration with 59 Productions.” Architecture + Design, 11 Jun. 2022. Web.

Willman, Chris. “New Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa Might Just Be the GOAT of Rock Museums.” Variety Online, 11 May 2022. Web.

2021

Baldwin, Eric. “Olson Kundig’s Alan Maskin on the Immense Power of Architectural Sketching.” Architizer, 10 Mar. 2021. Web.

“Bob Dylan Center® Acquires Newly Discovered Early Dylan Recordings And Other Singular Elements In Advance Of Next Year’s Grand Opening.” Markets Insider, 16 Nov. 2021. Web.

Coscarelli, Joe. “Bob Dylan Center, Featuring Archival Materials, to Open in 2022.” The New York Times Online, 12 May 2021. Web.

Kreps, Daniel. “Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa to Open to the Public in May 2022.” MSN Entertainment, 12 May 2021. Web.

Kreps, Daniel. “Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa to Open to the Public in May 2022.” Rolling Stone Online, 12 May 2021. Web.

Mencarelli, Elisa. “Un museo omaggia il genio artistico di Bob Dylan.” AD Italia, 8 Jun. 2021. Web.

Welton, J. Michael. “The Bob Dylan Center to Open in Tulsa in 2022.” Architects + Artisans, 12 May 2021. Web.

2020

Latterner, Tim. “Olson Kundig talks kinetic design, new projects, and our Facades+ conference.” Architect’s Newspaper, 30 Nov. 2020. Web.

2018

“Architect named for Bob Dylan Center.” Oklahoman, 5 Aug. 2018, 10D. Print.

“Bob Dylan Center Taking Shape in Tulsa With Location, Opening Date, Design Firm Finalized.” Tulsa World, 27 June 2018. Web.

Cogley, Bridget. “Olson Kundig Reveals Plans For Bob Dylan Center in Oklahoma.” Dezeen, 28 June 2018. Web.

Dunham, Sandy Deneau. “Seattle Architects To Build Home For Dylan Archives.” The Seattle Times, 28 June 2018, B2. Print.

Dunham, Sandy Deneau. “Seattle architects who are renovating Space Needle win new project: designing a world-class Bob Dylan Center.” The Seattle Times, 27 June 2018. Web.

“In Tulsa, a Home for Bob Dylan’s Archives.” Architects & Artisans, 5 July 2018. Web.

Keller, Hadley. “Selldorf’s Swiss Institute, Your Shipper Might Be a Big-Time Trump Donor, and More News This Week.” Architectural Digest, 29 June 2018. Web.

“Lead Architect Chosen for Dylan Center.” Oklahoman, 28 June 2018, 4C. Print.

Martin, James Gabriel. “This town in America is getting its very own Bob Dylan center.” Lonely Planet, 7 July 2018. Web.

McDonnell, Brandy. “Lead architect and exhibit designer selected for Oklahoma-based Bob Dylan Center, set to open in 2021.” Oklahoman, 31 July 2018. Web.

McManus, Jack. “Olson Kundig Chosen To Design The Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.” ArchDaily, 29 June 2018. Web.

McManus, Jack. “Olson Kundig Chosen To Design The Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.” Seriously Architecture, 29 June 2018. Web.

“Olson Kundig picked to design Bob Dylan Center in Oklahoma.” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 28 June 2018, 1, 9. Print.

“Olson Kundig picked to design Bob Dylan Center in Oklahoma.” Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, 28 June 2018. Web.

“Olson Kundig to Design the Bob Dylan Center.” Architects & Artisans, 3 July 2018. Web.

Parsons, Elly. “Bob Dylan Center in Oklahoma to be designed by Olson Kundig.” Wallpaper*, 27 June 2018. Web.

Singh-Kurtz, Sangeeta. “With Its New Bob Dylan Museum, Tulsa Makes A Play To Be The Next Nashville.” Quartzy, 29 June 2018. Web.

Speros, Will. “Olson Kundig to Design Bob Dylan Center In Tulsa.” Contract, 28 June 2018. Web.

“Tulsa Finalizes Bob Dylan Center Location, Design Firm.” Miami Herald, 27 June 2018. Web.

“Tulsa Finalizes Bob Dylan Center Location, Design Firm.” Washington Times, 27 June 2018. Web.

Watts, James D. “Design Firm Selected for The Bob Dylan Center.” Tulsa World, 27 June 2018, 15, 20. Print.

Wong, Alex. “Olson Kundig is chosen to design The Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa.” The Architect’s Newspaper, 27 June 2018. Web.

Yar, Sanam. “Bob Dylan’s Archives, No Longer a Rolling Stone, to Be Housed in Olson Kundig-Designed Center.” Metropolis, 11 July 2018. Web.

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