One of San Antonio’s most prolific and renowned artists, Spellmon’s career spanned decades, including 20 years as an Air Force writer and illustrator between 1956 and 1976. His subsequent “retirement” was one of the artist’s most productive periods—creating an untold number of works, whose hallmarks are generous applications of layered paint and masterful texturing of color.

The themes of his paintings speak to an array of themes—including Biblical depictions, Slavery scenes, memories of his upbringing in East Texas, scenes of African village life and portraits of historical notables. Inspired by his rural upbringing, religious surroundings, and African American heritage, Spellmon found nationa...