“History on Canvas” Exhibit Opens at the Museum of Texas Tech

LUBBOCK, Texas – The Museum of Texas Tech invites art enthusiasts, history buffs, and military aficionados from the across the South Plains to the opening of its newest exhibit at 6 pm, Thursday, May 9, at its venue on the University’s campus.

“History on Canvas: The Buffalo Soldier Revisited” is a poignant collective of artworks by the late Texas artist and decorated war hero Bob Snead, depicting the all-black 9th and 10th Calvary Regiments of the United States Army in the 19th century. The exhibit, slated to run through mid-December 2024, features 30 original acrylic paintings, and pen and ink drawings, each one painstakingly researched to provide a unique window through time to retell another important chapter of America’s storied history.

The exhibit marks only the second time that many of these pieces will be shown together in more than 35 years.

Remarks in the gallery will be given at 6:30 pm, by Bob Snead’s daughter, Karen Partee, a 1994 graduate of Texas Tech who is currently serving as Chair of the Texas Commission on the Arts.

Snead served more than 30 years in the U.S. Army, entering the service at the age of 19, and retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer Four, in 1982. The highly decorated dual-rated combat aviator served four tours of duty in Vietnam, earning among other commendations, 41 air medals, three Purple Hearts, three Vietnam Crosses of Gallantry with Silver Star, two Bronze Stars with V-Devices, and the Master Aviator Badge.

A self-taught cartoonist and artist, Snead went on to study at the Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles, CA, the University of Mainz in Mainz, Germany, and alongside Italian impressionist Salviano Constantin, while stationed with the military in Vicenza, Italy, in the 1982.

Snead gained prominence in his post-military career as a celebrated historian of the Buffalo Soldiers. Known throughout the state of Texas for his 50-year study and visual retrospective of the once-obscure troops of the 19th century, Snead’s research led to the development of his seminal body of work, entitled “100 Years Ago: The Buffalo Soldier Revisited.” The Buffalo Soldiers were African American soldiers who served in the U.S. Army following the Civil War, and their contributions to American history are celebrated in Snead’s powerful and evocative artwork. The full 167-piece collection toured the world many times over with several original pieces from the exhibit now hanging in private collections throughout the country and the Texas Governor’s Mansion.

The exhibit on display at Texas Tech will include Snead’s cornerstone piece, “The Buffalo Soldier,” known as painting No. 1 in the collection, originally painted in 1968, while Snead was on his first tour of duty in Vietnam with the United States Army.

For additional information about the Bob Snead “History on Canvas” Exhibit, or the Opening Reception, please contact CHRIS SNEAD at 806-438-5843.

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