Keith J. Vogrin is a painter based in Bethlehem Township, Pennsylvania. Born in Bethlehem in 1964 and raised in Freemansburg, he developed an early interest in drawing and visual expression, as well as a deep appreciation for nature. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting from The Pennsylvania State University in 1986, where he explored multiple media before focusing on oil painting and developed formal techniques, including expressive brushwork influenced by Impressionism.
Vogrin’s work is rooted in natural and built environments, often inspired by regional landscapes across Pennsylvania and the East Coast. His neoromantic realist style turns familiar scenes into something more romantic through composition, atmosphere, and the effects of light and shadow, often using strong tonal contrast and warm and cool tones. His paintings frequently present familiar locations from uncommon or elevated perspectives, reflecting on the world in a way that encourages others to see familiar places differently.
Since beginning his career, Vogrin’s work has been shown in exhibitions across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland. Whether inspired by travel or familiar landscapes, he maintains a working studio in Pennsylvania, where he continues creating neoromantic realist paintings and exhibiting throughout the region.
Artist Statement
Much of my subject matter reflects my passion for the outdoors ranging from rural to cityscapes. I use dramatic contrast of light and dark areas using warm and cool colors. I use this style to romanticize present day places and happenings which I experience. I use texture where needed with visible brush strokes in a “controlled looseness” fashion. My compositions are often from unusual perspectives, to challenge the imagination and create new views of observation that often go unnoticed. Some paintings are deep, dark and monolithic.
New Brunswick Art Salon 2026 – Oil and Mixed Media “Pigmented Perceptions” Exhibition
Education
1986 – Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), Drawing and Painting
Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA
Solo Shows
2024 – Feature Artist Solo Exhibition, Emmaus Public Library, Emmaus, PA
2024 – Solo Exhibition, Eagle Nest Gallery, Nazareth, PA
Exhibitions
2026
Group Show – “4 Realist Painters,” Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission, Bethlehem, PA
2025
12th Annual Highlands Art Exhibit, NJ Highlands Coalition/Morris Museum, Boonton, NJ
90th Annual Fall Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
Summer Juried Show 2025, Abington Art Center, Jenkintown, PA
13th Annual Juried Exhibition, Cerulean Arts, Philadelphia, PA
90th Annual Summer Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
17th Annual National Juried Art Exhibition, GoggleWorks, Reading, PA
15th Annual Art and Earth Juried Exhibit, Berkeley Arts Council, Martinsburg, WV
90th Annual Spring Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
45th Annual Juried Art Exhibition (International), Monmouth Museum, Lincroft, NJ
2024
89th Annual Fall Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
Color and Texture: Anthologies of Artistry, Alfa Art Gallery, New Brunswick, NJ
89th Annual Summer Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
2024 Summer Show, Connexions Gallery, Easton, PA
89th Annual Spring Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
2024 Spring Show, Connexions Gallery, Easton, PA
“Artist’s Choice” Art Exhibition, J. Mane Gallery, Online
44th Annual Juried Art Exhibition (International), Monmouth Museum, Lincroft, NJ
Contemporary Works Exhibition, ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, Bethlehem, PA
ENTR’EXHIBIT: Your Water, Your Future: Visions for the Highlands, NJ Highlands Coalition, Basking Ridge, NJ
2023
2023 Winter Show, Connexions Gallery, Easton, PA
6th Holiday Art & Gift Shop, gallery840, Allentown, PA
2023 Fall Show, Connexions Gallery, Easton, PA
87th Annual Fall Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
Rotunda Gallery Exhibition, Bethlehem Town Hall, Bethlehem, PA
2023 National Juried Exhibition, Delaplaine Arts Center, Frederick, MD
19th Annual Juried Art Exhibition, Adams County Arts Council, Gettysburg, PA
“Texture & Form” Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
“Landscapes 2023,” J. Mane Gallery, Online
2023 Spring Show, Connexions Gallery, Easton, PA
Winter 2023 Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
2022
2022 Holiday Show, Connexions Gallery, Easton, PA
2022 Invitational Juried Holiday Auction Exhibition, Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, Bethlehem, PA
“Play” Theme Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
2022 Fall Show, Connexions Gallery, Easton, PA
87th Annual Fall Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Allentown, PA
87th Annual Summer Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
2022 Scenes of Easton, Connexions Gallery, Easton, PA
2022 National Juried Exhibition, First Street Gallery, New York, NY
2022 Spring/Summer Show, Connexions Gallery, Easton, PA
87th Annual Winter Juried Art Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Center Valley, PA
Invitational Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Emmaus, PA
2021
Holiday Season Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
2021 Holiday Show, Connexions Gallery, Easton, PA
Art of the State 2021 Annual Juried Exhibition, State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA
Annual Fall Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Allentown, PA
8th Annual Highlands Art Exhibit, NJ Highlands Coalition/Morris Museum, Boonton, NJ
41st Open Juried Exhibition, Berks Art Alliance, Reading, PA
Annual Summer Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
Connexions Gallery Exhibition, Easton, PA
Winter 2021 Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
2020
“Inspiration from Isolation,” NY Art Competitions (NYAC), New York, NY
“The Earth Speaks VI” Regional Juried Exhibition, Pocono Arts Council, Tannersville, PA
Invitational Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Emmaus, PA
The Phoenix Show: Inner Visions, Doylestown, PA
85th Annual Spring Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
2019
40th Open Juried Exhibition, Berks Art Alliance, Reading, PA
84th Annual Summer Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
Images 2019 Juried Exhibition, Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, State College, PA
7th Annual Juried Exhibition, Cerulean Arts, Philadelphia, PA
“The Earth Speaks V” Regional Juried Exhibition, Pocono Arts Council, Tannersville, PA
7th Annual Juried Show, Artists of Yardley, Yardley, PA
84th Annual Winter Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
2018
83rd Annual Fall Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Allentown, PA
12th Annual Juried Exhibition, Baum School of Art, Allentown, PA
83rd Annual Summer Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
“The Earth Speaks IV” Regional Juried Exhibition, Pocono Arts Council, Stroudsburg, PA
2018 Compendium: Landscapes Juried Exhibition, ArtsQuest and Banana Factory Art Center, Bethlehem, PA
83rd Annual Spring Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
“Square 1” Juried Art Exhibit, Carlisle Arts Learning Center, Carlisle, PA
2017
2017 International Juried Exhibition, Center for Contemporary Art, Bedminster, NJ
82nd Annual Fall Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
National Juried Exhibition, Lancaster Arts Association, Strasburg, PA
Awards and Honors
2025
Walter Mattern Award (Second Place), Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
Harry V. Beidleman Award (Fourth Place), Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
2024
Garth Howland Award (First Place), Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
Best in Show, “Artist’s Choice” Online Exhibition, J. Mane Gallery
2023
Platinum Award, “Landscapes 2023,” J. Mane Gallery
Honorable Mention, Winter Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
2022
People’s Choice Award, Summer Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
Honorable Mention, Summer Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
2021
Third Place, 8th Annual Highlands Art Exhibit, NJ Highlands Coalition/Morris Museum
Paul Wieand Award, Summer Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
2020
Top 5 Winner (3rd Place), “Inspiration from Isolation,” NY Art Competitions, New York, NY
2018
LAA Award for Excellence, Baum School of Art, Allentown, PA
Paul Wieand Award, Winter Juried Exhibition, Lehigh Art Alliance, Bethlehem, PA
Contact
Website: www.keithvogrin.com