About Our Gallery

The St. Paul Square Historic District in San Antonio, Texas, has a rich history. In the Eye of The Beholder Art Gallery is located in Historic St. Paul Square. The district is located on the east side of downtown San Antonio. Its name comes from the Old St. Paul Methodist Episcopal Church, built between 1870 and 1880 in the Gothic Revival style. The area grew significantly with the arrival of the railroad in 1877 and the “Cemetery Line” of the streetcar system during the 1890s.
In 1902, the Southern Pacific Passenger Depot (Mission Revival style) was constructed, boosting commercial activity and development. Community and Decline: Although racially mixed from its earliest days, St. Paul Square developed into a flourishing African American community by the early to mid-20th century. It thrived during World War II and the Korean War, despite segregation.
However, the rise in automobile traffic and the construction of IH-37 led to decline in the 1960s and '70s.Today, St. Paul Square has experienced a rebirth as an entertainment district. Many historic buildings have been restored, and it’s now home to bustling dining and entertainment venues, and our beautiful gallery.

Maria M. Williams took notice of the lack of opportunities for Black artists in San Antonio. She took action and began her journey in art advocacy in 2019 with an initiative called the Art of Four, which was a team of four Black artists joining to obtain opportunities and exposure. The need to have a physical space for the Black artists in San Antonio quickly grew. Equipping her 13+ years of event planning, Maria opened In the Eye of the Beholder art gallery in September 2021. What started as a small initiative of 4 has now grown into a collection of 40+ artists. Maria also does work for the community outside the gallery, working as San Antonio's district 2 art commissioner.