Edgar B. Davis, a self made Millionaire and transplanted Yankee engendered a series of competitions from 1927 through 1929 in collaboration with the San Antonio Art League called The Texas Wildflower Competitive Exhibitions. The record setting cash purchase prizes, generous publicity and national exhibitions attracted artists from all over the country, including founding members of The Taos Society of Artists; Jose Arpa, W. Herbert Dunton, O.E. Berninghaus, and others.

The Davis Competitions , as they became popularly known, proved to be among the most significant cultural events in Texas during those formative years of the twentieth century. They were instrumental in forging the state's emerging art community and catapulting Texas art into the national limelight of the day. Although an important part of the state's cultural and artistic history, these art exhibitions remain virtually unknown today.

Listed below are the Davis Competitions' award winning works featured in William E. Reaves, Jr.'s book; 'Texas Art and a Wildcatter's Dream'.

Notes on each piece accompany these selections courtesy of Richard Casagrande, Board of Directors, San Antonio Art League.
Click here for the index of artists and works from the 1927-1929 Wildflower Competitive Exhibitions.

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The history of the competitions and Edgar B. Davis and the San Antonio Art league are chronicled in the book:

"TEXAS ART AND A WILDCATTER'S DREAM
Edgar B. Davis and the San Antonio Art League"
By: William E. Reaves, Jr

Reaves explores in depth the history of 'The Texas Wildflower Competitive Exhibitions and Edgar B. Davis. In addition to a gallery of color plates representing the best of the winning entries, this book offers an intriguing portrait of art philanthropy and the development of artistic trends in Texas. It includes a forward by Cecilia Steinfeldt and an afterword by Richard Casagrande. The book was published by Texas A&M University.