The Vault Art Space and Gathering Place is an art exhibition and private event venue in historic downtown Pauls Valley. Today, traces of the building's early 1900s roots can still be seen through the original vault door and ceiling tiles, brick, stucco and markings on the antique floor.

Owner Susie Agee’s family has a history of making and appreciating visual art, dating back to the 1930s when her immigrant great-grandparents painted murals in a few downtown Tulsa homes. She pays homage to her ancestors on the outside of her building: The Butterfly Mandala, a mural by Oklahoma artist Rick Sinnett (@mothman333), adorns the alley wall and alludes to how history and its enduring elements work together like a wheel through time.

Historical elements also dot the inside of the space. “The Legacy Room,” for example, contains vintage signs as well as furnishings from past businesses, including the old Pauls Valley Elks Club. The Vault gets creative with reusing and preserving materials, providing for a fun place to extend the items’ lives.

Above all, the purpose of The Vault Art Space and Gathering Place is in its name: gathering and appreciating art. Individual and joint exhibits are planned through a proposal process and last about a month. Pieces range from the traditional to the abstract, sculpture to ceramics. The exhibit space can be set up with seating or as a work space for a variety of events, like dinners, wedding showers and performances.

The next time you’re in Pauls Valley, stop by The Vault to see what’s new! The space is usually open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, but visitors are encouraged to contact thevaultpaulsvalley@gmail.com for current hours before making a special trip.

Photos by Grace Farnan of Grace Imaging and Rebecca Rudloff (@the_same_axis). Green setee provided by Grassroots Vintage Rentals.