Since 1945, the San Antonio Art League Museum has recognized an artist as artist of the Year. The artist is honored with a retrospective exhibition and an accompanying catalogue.

SAALM Artist of the Year 2018 Steven G. Smith,  En la Charreada

2018 - Steven G. Smith

2017 - James Wyatt Hendricks

2016 - Billy Keen

2015 - Zelime Matthews

2014 - Seth Camm

2013 - Francis Y. Huang

2012- Brian St. John

2011 - Thom Ricks

2010 - Marilyn Lanfear

2009 - Terry Gay Puckett

2008 - Sky Patterson

2007 - Phil Alan Simpson

2006 - Agnes Welsh Eyster

2005 - Charles Field

2004 - Sally Walke

2003 - Lloyd Walsh

2002 - Kate Ritson and Vincent Valdez

2001 - Dennis W. Smith

2000 - Marcia Gygli King

1999 - Cesar A. Martinez

1998 - Kathy Vargas

1997 - Linda Hammond

1996 - Dannville Chadbourne

1995 - Jamie Maverick

1994 - Kuo Yen Ng

1993 - Brenda Kingery

1992 - Brad Braune

1991  - Mary Lou Lewis

1990 - Beth Eidleberg

1989 - Kent Rush

1988 - Elizabeth Ridenhower

1987 - Harding Black

1986 - Alberto Migangos

1985 - E. Gordon West

1984 - Finis Collins

1983 - Caroline Shelton

1982 - Cecile Crow

1981 - Thomas A. Pressly

1980 - John Squire Adams

1979 - Joe S. Lawrie

1978 - Ivan E. McDougal

1977 - Nancy Pawel

1976 - Clay McGaughy

1975 - Ray Cox

1974 - Mildred Cocke

1973 - Jim Stoker

1972 - Richard H. Rogers

1971 - Frank Hein

1970 - Leopoldo Gonzalez

1969 - Carl Embry

1968 - All Past Artists

1967 - Martha Mood

1966 - Robert Tiemann

1965 - William Bristow

1964 - Margaret Putman

1963 - Jim Valone

1962 - Philip Evett

1961 - Herman de Jori

1960 - Chester Toney

1959 - Bill Reily

1958 - George Pinca

1957 - Ruth Dun

1956 - Keith McIntyre

1955 - Jack Tinkle

1954 - Cecil Casebier

1953 - Amy Lee Freeman

1952 - Margaret Pace

1951 - Jack Tinkle

1950 - Janet Shook

1949 - Robert Reed

1948 - Margaret Pace

1947 - Leslie Larsson

1946 - Alice Naylor