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.
FALL 2026 Art Exhibitions:
Into The Woods Presented by Phuong Thao Baker
Exhibit on Display: Monday, Aug. 24 – Friday, Sept. 25, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday, Aug. 21, 2026, 6 - 8 p.m.
Artist Note:
My work and inspiration have evolved over a long professional career. The journey has included both the process of mastering skills and techniques, as well as a lifelong devotion to learning and adaptation. The inspiration has been held together by a thread that follows a path through history and traditional artists. This is the path of Georgia O’Keeffe, Nicolai Fechin, Claude Monet and other realists who found our natural environment a thing of beauty that could be loved without the need for a deeper understanding. The work doesn’t need interpretation. I find my happy place outdoors observing and capturing the changes in the quality of light as the day progresses with a and nearly magical effect on vision and interpretation. The art is in how I paint a painting.
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
Wardell Picquet: Across Time Presented by Wardell Picquet
Exhibit on Display: Monday, Oct. 4 – Friday, Oct. 30, 2026
Opening Reception: Friday, Oct. 1, 2026, 6 - 8 p.m.
Wardell Picquet: Across Time presents a survey of work spanning several decades, tracing the evolution of an artistic practice shaped by continuity, transition, and renewal. Throughout Picquet's work, color, pattern, and texture serve as enduring elements through which he explores the human figure, memory, and presence.
From early works created in New Orleans to large-scale paintings and digital compositions developed in San Antonio following Hurricane Katrina, the exhibition reflects shifts in place, process, and perspective. Across Time reveals how a visual language can expand and transform over time while remaining rooted in resilience, growth, and the expressive power of color.
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
Viriditas Presented by the Fiber Artists of San Antonio
Exhibit on Display: Monday, Nov. 9 – Friday, Dec. 11, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, 2 - 4 p.m.
Viriditas—drawn from the writings of the 12th-century mystic Hildegard von Bingen—is a Latin word meaning “greening power” or the life force that animates all living things. This year’s exhibition explores themes of vitality, renewal, and the sacred energy of the natural world through fiber and textile-based art. The 2026 exhibition is juried by Jane Dunnewold who has taught and lectured internationally. She is widely recognized for her contributions to contemporary fiber art and surface design.
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 Crafts. Mary’s work inspired the original San Antonio group, which came together in 1972 with eleven members. Two of those original 11 fiber artists — Jean Peffers and Barbara Friedson — are still active members in FASA today.
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 2027 Art Exhibitions:
Emerging Visions: A Juried Exhibition of High School Artists 2027
Exhibit on Display: Monday, April 5 - Friday, April 16, 2027
Opening Reception: Saturday, April 3, 2027, 5 - 7 p.m.
The University of the Incarnate Word Department of Art proudly presents Emerging Visions, the inaugural exhibition of a new juried exhibition series showcasing the creativity and artistic achievement of high school students from across Bexar County. Open to current juniors and seniors, this exhibition serves as a bridge between secondary and higher education, providing young artists with the opportunity to exhibit their work in a professional gallery setting while exploring future pathways in the visual arts.
Selected artworks represent a diverse range of artistic perspectives, techniques, and media, highlighting the talent and innovation of the next generation of artists. Through this exhibition, the Department of Art seeks to foster meaningful connections with prospective students, support artistic growth, and celebrate the important role of the arts within our community.
Light refreshments are provided.
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 2027
Exhibit on Display: Monday, April 26 - Friday, May 21, 2027
Opening Reception: Thursday, April 22, 2027, 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 media, such as painting, drawing, photography and ceramics.
Light refreshments are provided.
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