Semmes Gallery
Semmes Gallery, located in the Kelso Art Center, is one of three gallery spaces at the University of the 
Incarnate Word. Frequently hosting students, guest artists, and solo and collective exhibitions, it is a dynamic gallery featuring works as diverse as the artists themselves. At any given time, guests may find paintings, drawings, sculptures, installations, photography, digital art and more.
Upcoming Events
View All EventsFALL 2024 Art Exhibitions:
Cultural Threads Exhibition Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
Exhibit on Display: Friday, Sept. 13 – Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024
Opening Reception: Friday, September 13, 2024 6 - 8 p.m.
"Cultural Threads" celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month by showcasing the diverse identities of the University. This exhibit celebrates the rich diversity within our community, highlighting how shared experiences at UIW weave us together, even beyond our cultural backgrounds.
Gallery hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Kelso Art Center / Semmes and Condos Galleries
(Broadway and Hildebrand on UIW campus)
Free and Open to the Public
Fiber Artists of San Antonio and Spare Parts Exhibition: Circularity
Exhibit on Display: Sunday, Nov. 10 – Friday, Dec. 13, 2024
Opening Reception: Sunday, November 10, 2024 3 - 5 p.m.
The Fiber Artists of San Antonio (FASA) organization owes its founding to Mary Heickman, who was originally from Houston. Mary was one of the original Texas fiber artists. She was also a teacher and taught fiber techniques to the wives of the Astronauts who were living in Houston at the time.
In 1971, she moved to San Antonio and began teaching fiber arts here at the Southwest School of Arts and Craft. Mary’s work inspired the original San Antonio group, which came together in 1972 with eleven members. Two of those original eleven fiber artists - Jean Peffers and Barbara Friedson - are still active members in FASA today.
CIRCULARITY is a call for fiber artists to create artwork using unconventional, eco-friendly, or sustainable materials. Works will inspire action to reach a sustainable planet or reflect a vision of a sustainable planet for future generations. Works may choose to address one of the four pillars of sustainability: human, social, economic, and environmental/ecological balance. Fiber artists will utilize materials that create no waste, repurpose, recycle, or reimagine, which advances the circular economy. Exhibited works will reflect a growing fiber art awareness/movement that comments on, protests, illuminates or celebrates our hope for the future of a sustainable planet.
Fiber Artists of San Antonio (FASA)
Gallery hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Kelso Art Center / Semmes and Condos Galleries
(Broadway and Hildebrand on UIW campus)
Free and Open to the Public
SPRING 2025 Art Exhibitions:
FBTW Presents Acting Under Duress: Surviving with Resilience Exhibition
Exhibit on Display: Saturday, January 11 - Saturday, January 25, 2025
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 11, 2025 TBD
Closing Discussion Panel: Saturday, January 25, 2025 3 - 5 p.m.
"[Free Battered Texas Women's] vision for this project is to humanize criminalized abuse survivors so that the audience can see themselves in us. We are all socialized into a culture of violence and of love. We all act differently under duress and need to have compassion for each other under
difficult circumstances like abuse.
I want everyone to question their definitions of “felon,” “domestic violence offender,” “criminal,” “violent offender,” and “victim.” In a state, country, and world where women are charged for their abusive male partner’s crimes and where we are treated like demons (instead of heroes like men are) when we defend ourselves or others under imminent harm, I hope you’ll agree these labels are problematic at best and harmful at worst. They reflect the misogyny, racism, and classism inherent in our culture – as well as in the prison industrial complex we have instead of a true justice system."
-Cathy Marston, Executive Director FBTW
Gallery hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Kelso Art Center / Semmes and Condos Galleries
(Broadway and Hildebrand on UIW campus)
Free and Open to the Public
Seok-ki Lee: Beauty of Korea Exhibition
Exhibit on Display: Friday, February 28 - Friday, April 4, 2025
Opening Reception: Friday, February 28, 2025 6 - 8 p.m.
Seok-ki Lee is an outstanding painter with 10 solo exhibitions in 40 years. As a notable artist he has exhibited his work in international exhibitions in Europe, Asia and the United States; Mr. Lee has displayed his work seven times in Korea and three time in the United States. In the Beauty of Korea exhibition, he chose Hanbok, a traditional Korean clothing, as the main subject. Mr. Lee wishes to spread the beauty of Korea to the world through his artwork and intends to express the sentiments of Koreans by utilizing the vibrant colors of watercolor paint and the aesthetics of the empty space on the canvas.
1987~2001 Exhibition of the Asian Watercolor Confederation
2007 Korean Japan Modern Art Festival
2014 Korean-New York Artist Association Art Fair
Gallery hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Kelso Art Center / Semmes and Condos Galleries
(Broadway and Hildebrand on UIW campus)
Free and Open to the Public
SAISD Campuses of Innovation Exhibition 2025
Exhibit on Display: Friday, April 11 - Thursday, April 17, 2025
Opening Reception: Friday, April 11, 2025 5 - 8 p.m.
Each year UIW's Art department hosts San Antonio ISD's campuses for an art competition showcasing their best work in photography, drawing, painting, and ceramics for the school year. All campuses have the opportunity to participate ranging from elementary to high school with winners of the competition being announced during the opening reception.
Gallery hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Kelso Art Center / Semmes and Condos Galleries
(Broadway and Hildebrand on UIW campus)
Free and Open to the Public
Senior Capstone Exhibition 2025
Exhibit on Display: Friday, April 25 - Friday, May 23, 2025
Opening Reception: Friday, April 25, 2025 6 - 8 p.m.
In the spring semester of their senior year, Art students have the opportunity to display their work in an exhibit. The Senior Capstone exhibit showcases the art that students have been able to develop and hone during their time at UIW. The exhibit allows students the opportunity to have their work on display in a fully operating gallery before graduating. The experience prepares them for future exhibitions that may interest them to spread their work to a larger audience. The Capstone includes works in various mediums such as painting, drawing, photography and ceramics.
Gallery hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Kelso Art Center / Semmes and Condos Galleries
(Broadway and Hildebrand on UIW campus)
Free and Open to the Public
SUMMER 2025 Art Exhibitions:
Texas Watercolor Society 76th National Exhibition 2025
Exhibit on Display: Saturday, June 7 – Thursday, July 31, 2025
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 7, 2025 6 - 8 p.m.
The Texas Watercolor Society was founded in March 1949. The society holds an annual exhibition featuring Texas and national watercolor artists. From the most novice budding artist, to the most experienced professional, the TWS has the opportunity to showcase the best of what the world of watercolor has to offer. Please join us for the Texas Watercolor Society's 76th annual exhibit at the Kelso Art Center.
Texas Watercolor Society
Gallery hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Kelso Art Center / Semmes and Condos Galleries
(Broadway and Hildebrand on UIW campus)
Free and Open to the Public