Visions of Santa

You and our family are invited to a one-of-a-kind exhibit painted by native Texas artist Billy L. Keen containing unique images of Santa Claus painted each year since 1974; totaling 45 in San Antonio’s 2018 Tricentennial, and seen on TV’s “Texas Country Reporter” (2003).

What began as an explanation about an art method, has become an annual Texas Christmas tradition. In 1974 Billy L. Keen was demonstrating to a co-worker how the Old Master painters used a method called “under painting” to achieve flesh tones. Because the season was Christmas, Keen decided to use Santa as subject of the demonstration, then hung the painting in the room of his one-year old son. The following year he painted a new Santa for his second son. By the third year, it seemed like “a neat thing to do.” Since then, it’s become tradition.

Opening Reception is Wednesday, December 19 from 5-8 p.m. Exhibit runs through Dec 31, 2018.