Glass Box Gallery, located inside the Rothrock Library in Schnecksville, is currently hosting an art exhibition which showcases the work of two Lehigh Valley artists.

The artists, Connor McKee of Bethlehem and Kenneth Browne of Allentown, were in attendance to greet visitors and discuss their work at the exhibition’s opening event on Sept. 17.

The Exhibition, entitled “The Spaces Between,” includes an impressive collection of paintings by the two artists, many of which feature locations and landscapes that will feel familiar to Lehigh Valley residents.

McKee’s work, done in watercolor and ink, was influenced by the Urban Sketchers movement and is often painted on-site in vibrant urban settings, such as coffee shops, bars, and downtown locations.

“Those are the places that I find a lot of personal energy,” McKee says.

The Urban Sketchers movement emphasizes drawing on location and directly from observation.

McKee speaks of his painting in terms of storytelling and a desire to capture a specific time and place in his work.

“I love getting to put a spotlight on the places that I love,” he says.

For McKee, a place where he can observe “the hustle of human life” is inspirational.

“It’s a place I always feel creative and getting to take my art into that place or bring that place into my art I always find rewarding.”

While his paintings also feature locations from his travels, McKee notes a specific fondness for his hometown.

“I am a Lehigh Valley local. I love the Lehigh Valley. I especially love my city of Bethlehem. There are many places that I go just for the joy of being there. It’s not a coincidence that places like Main St., Bethlehem and McCarthy’s and Lost Tavern pop up in so many of my pieces.”

While McKee’s pieces highlight urban settings, Browne’s oil paintings showcase the rolling hills and open skies of the Valley’s farmland, some including whimsical touches inspired by the shapes his daughter identifies in the clouds.

Browne studied at Salisbury University in Maryland, before moving to Brooklyn to study at Pratt Institute.

While living in New York City, he drew inspiration from his surroundings, often painting what he describes as a “slice of life” in the city.

He also painted portraits, including a collection of Burlesque portraits.

His works have been featured in exhibitions in Chelsea, Soho, and Brooklyn.

A move to Allentown in 2016 inspired a new creative direction for Browne, as he began to draw inspiration from the “clouds and open space” he sees on his commute through the farmlands around Kutztown.

“The landscape is still new for me in a way that I’m still learning it and playing with it and learning what I can do with it,” Browne says.

He says he asks himself, “What different techniques can I use to get the feeling I want to get?”

“The Spaces Between” will be open to the public Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 23 at Glass Box Gallery inside the Rothrock Library at 4750 Orchard Road, Schnecksville.

Gallery Director Jeremy Siedt notes that gallery assistants will be on hand to answer any questions, provide information about the artists, and assist with purchases.

Private viewings are also available upon request.