The Rotunda Exhibitions, presented by the Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission, showcase a rotating selection of artwork in Bethlehem City Hall’s Rotunda Gallery. Featuring local and regional artists, the exhibitions highlight a variety of styles, including painting, photography, printmaking, and mixed media. Each show runs for several weeks and includes a free artist reception open to the public. Located in the heart of Bethlehem, the Rotunda Gallery offers a unique space where art and community come together.
Location: Bethlehem City Hall, 10 E Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 AM – 4 PM (Closed weekends & holidays) 
The Bethlehem Palette Club will be exhibiting a Members Exhibition at the Bethlehem Town Hall Rotunda Gallery from May 20 to June 28, 2026.
There will be a closing reception on Sunday, June 28 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.
On June 11, 1947, nine artists met in Bethlehem and organized the Palette Club. The objective of the organization was to stimulate public interest in the progress of the fine arts and artists in the city of Bethlehem. In November of that year, during American Art Week, Mayor Robert Pfeifle gave permission for the First Wash Line Exhibit on the corner of New and Market Streets. There were nineteen Charter Members. Well known watercolorist Fred Bees was in that group and continued to serve until his passing in 2002. In 1968, the Club was incorporated as a non-profit and renamed Bethlehem Palette Club.
Today, the Bethlehem Palette Club remains dedicated to its original purpose and, with population growth within the Lehigh Valley, has greatly expanded its membership to include artists and others interested in the arts from all regions of the Valley and beyond. The Club offers year-round opportunities to learn, create and exhibit. A membership meeting is held at Edgeboro Moravian Church in Bethlehem once a month and includes art demonstrations and presentations along with an opportunity to socialize. Weekly plein air sessions in warmer months are scheduled at many outdoor venues through the Lehigh Valley. In addition, indoor live model portrait sessions at College Hill Moravian Church during the winter months provide a unique opportunity to study the human form and expression. A new space for artists to work on their own projects while informally gathering for 3 hours once a week with other members is called Open Studio, located at the Lower Saucon Seidersville Hall.
Periodic exhibitions of work by members are at various venues around the Lehigh Valley, including the Rotunda Gallery. Information on all of these activities and events can be found in the members’ monthly newsletter and on the Club’s Facebook page and website. The awards for this exhibition were selected by Jim Lukens, well known artist of the Upper Bucks County region whose plein air portrayal of landscapes brings to mind the work of the Pennsylvania Impressionists. His subject matter is not limited to landscapes, as one is also very likely to find flora and fauna in his portfolio. Lukens studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and brings his knowledge, insight, and teaching skills to his gallery in Quakertown where he inspires others to paint. The Main Street Gallery at 1236 W. Broad Street houses an array of original works by Lukens and others. The exhibition is sponsored by the Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission and the PA Council on the Arts.
Founded in 1947, the Bethlehem Palette Club celebrates the outstanding talent and creativity of members from throughout the Lehigh Valley region with this members exhibition showcasing a variety of media, subjects and styles.
2026 ROTUNDA SCHEDULE
Want to have your work on display?
If you are interested in being considered for a Rotunda Gallery show, we’d love to hear from you. Please send us an email about you and your artwork and let’s get the conversation started.
Video: Learn more about our Rotunda Shows
