Billy Keen is an artist with over 30 years of illustration experience. Keen was educated in the Wichita Falls, Texas public schools, later at Midwestern University. His background includes training and experience in wood sculpture, ceramics, photography, print making, blacksmithing, painting and fiber painting. His work in advertising has appeared in national periodicals, radio, television, compact discs, and a variety of print applications from billboards to bumper stickers.
Current works by Billy Keen incorporate many of these disciplines in three-dimensional paintings. Billy Keen Art has appeared in galleries across the country, a number of private collections, as well as the esteemed U.S. Air Force art collection. Commissioned works include portraits of Congresswoman Barbara Jordan for a middle school, the Reverend John Wesley DeVilbiss, commemorating United Methodism’s Bicentennial, a program cover for the San Antonio Fiesta Commission and the Air Force logo on a NASA space shuttle. Keen’s art is represented exclusively by La Posada de Santa Fe in New Mexico.
Each year since 1974, Keen has painted one new and unique image of Santa Claus. The portraits delight art lovers of all ages through a tradition that began as an explanation of art technique and a lesson in art history. The Keen SANTAS have been shown as “Visions of Santa” in a vast number of Christmas exhibits and featured nearly annually since 2003 on television’s Texas Country Reporter.
In 2003, Billy completed the ecumenical Two Year Academy for Spiritual Formation. As a
thesis project he created a series of 12“Resurrection Appearances” accompanied by a printed commentary. The work has been displayed locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. In 2012 Keen received the prestigious Onderdonk Memorial Purchase Prize from the San Antonio Art League and Museum, and was nominated for their Artist of The Year 2013. Billy Keen leads workshops and retreats on art and contemplative vision. He is married to Linda Keen and father to their grown sons, Brian Keen and Devin Keen.
We are pleased to welcome this accomplished artist and his interesting work to The Gallery Collection at La Posada de Santa Fe. All of his work is for sale here at the hotel at his studio prices. We do not mark up the work, but if you choose to buy a Keen or any other original from the hotel collection, you will be invited back each time you are at La Posada with a half priced room and no daily resort fee. It is our way of thanking our collectors for supporting the artists.
