Brother Cletus Behlmann, S.M. is a Marianist Brother, artist-in-residence and director of the St. Mary's University Art Center since 1977. Cletus, a native of Florissant, Missouri was not born with a paintbrush in his hand, but began his art studies in 1960. He has accomplished what many artists only dream of - instant name recognition and the luxury of spending his days creating works of art. He says simply, "I have no idea what I would be doing if I hadn't started painting." Cletus is unbelievably productive and imaginative as seen on the canvas in bold, bright colors and creative inventiveness. This tall, unassuming gray-haired man has a mischievous smile when he talks about some of the ideas he can't wait to play around with. And, whatever he does seems to become yet another distinctive style. Brother Cletus says that he tries to keep learning and changing. He frequently travels and captures the spirit of locales he visits, ranging from a tiny French fishing village, to a quaint Spanish town, a Greek monastery high on Mt. Athos or to the Great Wall of China. Traveling and painting is a favorite combination. Many European cities, China, Japan, Mexico, Central America, as well as areas of the USA have been painted in bright, bold colors in the distinctive Cletus style. As well as painting these areas in already familiar mediums Cletus searches for new mediums to express his talents.

The collector will also find in Cletus's studio abstract and religious themes, stylized impressions done with creativity, energy, color and design that bring a special joy to the viewer. They can be appreciated and are as appropriate in the home as they are in chapels and religious settings.

An artist who has been the recipient of numerous awards, Cletus is also very community minded and not just within his own home of San Antonio, Texas. He recently received a letter of appreciation from a charity in Houston, Texas, thanking him for his donation of a painting to their fund-raising auction. It sold for $10,000.