Visit the Kemp Center for the Arts and Billy Keen’s Visions of Santa exhibit, where viewers will discover a one-of-a-kind presentation containing 49 unique images of Santa Claus. Mr. Keen has painted one image per year since 1974! What began as an explanation about an art method evolved into an annual tradition. Billy Keen was demonstrating to a co-worker how the Old Master painters used a method called underpainting to achieve flesh tones. Because the season was Christmas, Keen decided to use Santa Claus as the subject. Keen 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.” After that, it became a tradition continuing through today.

DATES: 

• Exhibit is open to the public through August 26, 2023
• Artist Talk & Meet-and-Greet on Saturday, July 29 from 3:30-5:00pm  

LOCATION: Kemp Center for the Arts – 1300 Lamar, Wichita Falls, TX 76301

DETAILS:

• FREE! Open free of charge to all visitors
• No registration needed for Artist Talk
• All ages are welcome

Since 1984, Visions of Santa has been exhibited more than 30 times across Texas. For more information on artwork by Billy Keen, see his website at www.billykeenart.com. He was also interviewed and featured on episode #851 of Texas Country Reporter and most recently held an interview with Assemblage Contemporary Craftsmen Gallery.