SAN ANTONIO ART LEAGUE & MUSEUM
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      • 92ND
      • 2022 COLLEGIATE
      • COLLEGIATE 2021
      • ANSEN SEALE
      • 2019 INVITATIONAL
      • JANE DUNNEWOLD
      • MIDCENTURY MODERN
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      • GAGA @ SAALM
      • VISIONS OF SANTA
      • INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION
      • ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2018
      • DAVIS COLLECTIOM
      • THE 88th JURIED EXHIBITION 2018
      • INVITATIONAL EXHIBIT
      • JAMES WYATT HENDRICKS
      • Visions of Summer
      • The Collegiate Exhibit
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    • THE DAVIS GALLERY
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  • AOY22
  • Untitled
Picture
HISTORY

The San Antonio Art League
was organized in March 13, 1912. Representing several art groups, the founders sought to achieve a three-fold goal; to provide artists with a place to exhibit their works, to acquire paintings for the public's enjoyment, and to found an art school.

In 1926, the Art League began what was to become a 45 year alliance with the Witte Museum, sharing space. A dream was realized in 1927 when the Museum of Art school was born.

During 1927, 1928, and 1929 the San Antonio Art League conducted the Texas Wildflowers Competitive Exhibitions. These competitions were made possible through the generosity of Edgar B. Davis. The Davis Competitions, as they became popularly known, proved to be among the most significant cultural events in Texas during those formative years of the twentieth century.

The Art League experienced encouraging progress until World War II. In early 1942, the school closed for "the duration". Mrs. Marion Koogler McNay, a wealthy arts patron, and graduate of the Chicago Art Institute, assessed the situation. Thanks to her generosity, the Art League continued classes in a spacious aviary on the McNay Estate.

Then, circumstances forced another move, this time to the Belgian Pavilion at HemisFair Plaza. After a brief stay, the Art League moved again to the Koehler Cultural Center. The Otto Koehlers had given their mansion to San Antonio Community College, and Mrs. Koehler requested that they allow the San Antonio Art League to office there.

Needs grew, times changed, and the Art League once again needed a home. More security and proper temperature control were prime requisites. The ideal opportunity arose in the King William Historic District, one of San Antonio's most notably distinguished areas. Within this highly restricted and historical environment the home for SAAL&M is, at last, a permanent place.



TRADITIONS

Annual San Antonio Artists Exhibition and
the Onderdonk Prize:

Each year the San Antonio Art League Museum sponsors a juried Exhibition. This annual San Antonio Artists Exhibition grew out of the fabled Edgar B. Davis Competitions of the late 1920s.  Now in their 89th year, the Annual San Antonio Artists Competitions are juried events and the purchase prizes will add to the permanent collection of the San Antonio Art League Museum . Link to List of Onderdonk Winners


Ethel T. Drought Founders Award:
The Ethel T. Drought Founders Award for outstanding contribution to the Arts is awarded to an art patron in May.  Previous recipients are:
  • 2001 - Dorothy and Charles Katz
  • 2002 - Edith McAllister
  • 2003 - Walter Nold Mathis
  • 2004 - Margaret Pace Willson and Linda Pace
  • 2005 - Betty Lou and Larry Sheerin
  • 2006 - Libba Barnes
  • 2007 - Chris Hill
  • 2008 - Marie and Hugh Halff
  • 2009 - Dr. Ricardo & Harriett D. Romo
  • 2010 - Ann Griffith Ash
  • 2011 - Babs Baugh
  • 2012 - Jane and Thomas Drought
  • 2013 - Claire Golden
  • 2014 - Mike Casey
  • 2015 - Carol L. Karotkin
  • 2016 - Dr. & Mrs. Dale Wood
  • 2017 - Cappy and Suzy Lawton
  • 2018 - Terry Gay Puckett and Val Alexander
  • 2019 - Zelime and John Matthews
  • 2020 - Nancy and Garry Fullerton





website design by Lyn Belisle
© San Antonio Art League & Museum 2016
  • HOME
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT SAALM
    • LEADERSHIP
    • HISTORY AND TRADITIONS
    • THE ONDERDONK PURCHASE PRIZE
    • PROPERTY HISTORY TIMELINE
    • NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES
  • MEMBERSHIP
    • BECOME A MEMBER
    • DOCENTS
    • VOLUNTEERS
    • ARTIST OF THE YEAR
    • ARTIST MEMBER GUIDEINES FOR GALLERY AND GIFT SHOP >
      • MEMBERS GALLERY GUIDELINES2
      • SMALL WORKS GIFT SHOP GUIDELINES
  • EXHIBITIONS
    • CALLS FOR ENTRY >
      • 93
    • OUR MEMBERS GALLERY & GIFT SHOP >
      • MEMBERS GALLERY
      • SAALM SMALL WORKS GIFT SHOP
    • PREVIOUS EXHIBITS >
      • 92ND
      • 2022 COLLEGIATE
      • COLLEGIATE 2021
      • ANSEN SEALE
      • 2019 INVITATIONAL
      • JANE DUNNEWOLD
      • MIDCENTURY MODERN
      • THE COLLEGIATE EXHIBITION 2019
      • GAGA @ SAALM
      • VISIONS OF SANTA
      • INVITATIONAL EXHIBITION
      • ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2018
      • DAVIS COLLECTIOM
      • THE 88th JURIED EXHIBITION 2018
      • INVITATIONAL EXHIBIT
      • JAMES WYATT HENDRICKS
      • Visions of Summer
      • The Collegiate Exhibit
  • DAVIS GALLERY
    • THE DAVIS GALLERY
    • DAVIS GALLERY INSIGHTS
    • THE WILDFLOWER COMPETITION
    • EXHIBITION CATALOG
  • EVENTS
    • CALENDAR OF EVENTS
    • OVERVIEW
    • SAAL&M ON FACEBOOK
  • AOY22
  • Untitled