Keith Klein's work is part of the collection(s) of the Princess of Saudi Arabia, Cincinnati Bell, Convergys, Cincinnati Financial, and many prestigious private collections across the United States. Klein studied with Anneliese Wahrenburg in her atelier for ten years and trained in the Hague School manner of painting in her atelier for ten years. Ms. Wahrenburg emigrated from Germany after being imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp for sheltering and helping Jewish people during the war. 

Keith is amazingly diverse, with styles that range from classical realism, impressionism, pointillism to paintings done en Plein-air – always painted with his recognizable "voice" even in these divergent styles. He often puts surprises and symbols in his work that are delightful to find.

Keith's studio in Florence, Kentucky, was built in 1903 and was once the First Florence Deposit Bank. Keith teaches classes in oil painting, acrylics, pastels, and watercolor five days a week in his studio. Many of his students are accepted into the prestigious Governor's School for the Arts and awarded full scholarships for college. He also has a particular affinity and gift for teaching special needs children and adults.

Artist Interview

1) What do you think and feel about your art?

In a darkened theater a Magician clad in a tuxedo waves his hand and a dove, cards or a rabbit appears, the name we give this phenomena is “magic." In a sunlit studio, a painter waves his hand and a whole world takes form, we call it art. Sometimes the difference isn’t all that clear because when I am at the easel, I feel like a combination of magician and conductor, I conduct and connect dots of light.

2) What do you want people to know about you?

Inspiration comes after I begin, I don't wait for it, I begin, and it finds me, it is like stepping onto an invisible bridge-like Indiana Jones did, I see the bridge in my heart and mind's eye, and the process begins, I feel as if I am involved in real magic. I am inspired by this quote by Joseph Campbell “The caves we fear to enter, hold the treasures we seek.” I try to dance with fear as often as I can, because I grow then as an artist and a person.

3) What fuels and inspires your work?

Art like Music is an expanded present. Like the conductor, I appreciate many different styles of music. Most people enjoy various types of music, jazz, big band, opera, pop, or hip-hop. I feel the same way about the many expressive ways artists speak on canvas. I don't limit myself to a single pathway or “Ism." I love all the isms, realism, impressionism, surrealism and so on. The only “ism” I don’t embrace is cynicism and that has made all the difference.