January 2, 2026

The Blue Hill Public Library will present “Take a Hike: Abstracted Landscapes from Here and There,” a solo exhibition of paintings by Surry visual artist Richard Keen, on view at the library from January 2 through January 30, 2026. The public is invited to a reception for the show on Saturday, January 10, 3:00 to 5:00 p.m.

“‘Take a Hike’ is about the landscapes we carry with us — the ones under our feet and the ones we hold in our minds,” says Keen. “I’m interested in how a path, a patch of light, or a distant line of trees can become something new when it’s filtered through personal experience.”

Specializing in abstraction, Keen’s work explores the relationship between place and perception, often at the intersection of natural and built environments. In this collection, Keen invites viewers into abstracted Maine landscapes shaped by memory, movement, and lived experience in the natural world. Using bold color, geometric forms, and shifting horizons, the work moves fluidly between representation and abstraction. Inspired by local trails, coastal vantage points, and the act of moving through nature, the paintings capture the feeling of a hike more than the exact terrain.

Originally from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, Keen earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Millikin University and a Master of Arts from S.U.N.Y. Albany. He has lived and worked in Maine for many years, drawing significant inspiration from its coastal environments as well as his professional experience as a commercial diver. In addition to his studio practice, Keen has completed several public art commissions, including large-scale murals for educational and community spaces.

Keen’s paintings are held in public and private collections internationally and have been featured through the U.S. State Department’s Art in Embassies program. He has received multiple grants from the Maine Arts Commission, the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, and Rhode Island Sea Grant.

The exhibition will be available for viewing during library hours through January 30, with access to paintings in the Howard Room subject to the meeting schedule. For more information contact the library at 374-5515.