“Some of us calm the water, while others create waves… calm waters do not induce action, waves most definitely do.” – James Howard Fox
This spring, the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to present Creating Waves: The Architecture of James H. Fox, an exhibition that brings to light the rich legacy of an architect who believed deeply in the expressive power of structure, place, and personal connection.
Curated by Fox’s grandson, Joseph Stiles—a fifth-year architecture student at the University of Oklahoma—the exhibition is both a professional retrospective and a deeply personal tribute. Stiles was entrusted with stewarding the Fox archives in 2020, and this exhibition reflects years of care, study, and admiration.
Creating Waves: The Architecture of James H. Fox will be on view from March 31 through May 11, 2025, in the Gould Hall Living Room at the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture, located at 830 Van Vleet Oval, Norman, OK 73019. An opening reception will be held on Monday, March 31, from 4:00 to 5:00 PM.
A Life in Architecture, Rooted in Structure
James H. Fox (1939–2017) earned his Master of Architecture at the University of Oklahoma, where he studied under Herb Greene, Dean Vollendorf, and other figures of the American School who helped shape his thinking. From early projects like his OU master’s thesis, which explored tactile design for the visually impaired, to his bold residential and community projects across western North Carolina, Fox remained committed to architecture that responded to people, place, and process.
Fox believed that architecture begins and ends with structure—not just as a technical element, but as the soul of design. This belief informed everything from his “Tangible Painting,” which allowed the visually impaired to feel design, to his telephone pole-inspired studies of structural frames that would shape many of his future works.
From Family Home to Mountain Gazebos
Through drawings, photographs, and models, Creating Waves traces Fox’s unique architectural path. Highlights include:
- Residential Designs: Over 200 private homes designed with clients’ needs, sites, and views in mind. Ozzie Malone, a colleague, recalls how Fox was captivated by a partially buried boulder that ultimately defined a home’s entire structural frame.
- The Vaughn Gazebo: A dramatic viewing pavilion in the North Carolina mountains, structured around a 50-foot utility pole with radiating frames—embodying Fox’s approach to structure as generator of space.
- Fox Family Homes: The exhibit captures the playful, evolving nature of the two Fox family homes, where additions included a greenhouse, balconies, a studio over a kitchen, and even a whimsical playhouse—spaces filled with music, movement, and the motto “Forever Family.”
- Community Impact: Fox’s legacy includes pro bono work like the Highlands Community Center, murals, theater sets, and more. At the Wildcat Cliffs Country Club, he left a mark with more than 35 structures including a clubhouse, fitness center, cottages, and numerous homes.
Olson Residence designed by Jim Fox. Courtesy of the James Howard Fox Collection
Bringing the Archive to Life
As both architect and grandson, the Creating Waves curator Joseph Stiles brings a unique lens to this exhibition. His passion for architecture and deep admiration for his grandfather’s legacy are woven into every detail—from the curatorial layout to the selected materials that reflect Fox’s belief in site-specific, structurally expressive design. After the exhibition, Stiles plans to gift the Jim Fox Archive to the University of Oklahoma’s American School Archive, which is part of OU Libraries’ Special Collections.
Stiles was guided in this effort by Faculty Advisor and Robert L. Wesley Faculty Fellow Christopher Loofs, with additional support from Fadi Kandalaft, Jerry Puckett, Stephanie Pilat, Angela Person, and many others.
The exhibition is made possible with support from the American School Strategic Priorities Fund, which continues to uplift and preserve the legacy of visionary architects like James H. Fox. Gibbs College is especially grateful to Sherry Faust for her leadership in developing the American School Strategic Priorities Fund and for her generous planned gift to protect and promote the legacy of the American School.
Creating Waves: Selected Highlights
Featured Image (Top of Post): Photograph of the Vaughn Gazebo designed by Jim Fox and built in Highlands, NC.
Ryan Karcher, Photographer. Courtesy of RKP, 2024.