About the Artist
Biography of Denise Vitollo
My pastel artworks explore color, and how it is influenced by light and shadow. I am obsessed with water...what's underneath and on top of it.
Denise Vitollo, PPS, PWCS, MPS, DPS, PPSCC
Denise Vitollo’s pastel works explore color, and how it is influenced by light and shadow. The experience of pastel painting allows her to immediately connect to her subject, and to react to her perceptions quickly and emotionally with pure, bold pigment.
Memberships:
Juried Associate Member of the Pastel Society of America
Signature Member, Philadelphia Pastel Society, Vice President and Workshop Coordinator
Signature Member of the Philadelphia Water Color Society, former Workshop Coordinator
Signature Member of the Maryland Pastel Society
Signature Member of the Degas Pastel Society of New Orleans
Signature Member of the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod
Delaware Valley Art League
Chester County Art Association
Recent Awards:
Maryland Pastel Society Signature Members Exhibition, Biggs Museum of American Art, 2026
Philadelphia Pastel Society Members Show, Honorable Mention, 2026
Delaware Valley Art League, Memorial Award, 2025.
Green Team Environmental Group, Phil Jamison Memorial Award, 2023.
Philadelphia Pastel Society National Juried Exhibition, Award of Excellence for Use of Color, 2023.
New Orleans Drawing Group, Award of Exceptional Merit, 2023.
Philadelphia Pastel Society Plein Air Exhibition, 3rd Place, Dakota Art Award, 2023.
Philadelphia Pastel Society Plein Air Exhibit, Award, 2022.
The Pastel Journal’s 2021 Pastel 100, Honorable Mention in the Animal and Wildlife Category
Palette to Palate, Chester County, PA, West Charlton Frame Award, 2021
Connecticut Pastel Society, Renaissance In Pastel, Pastel Society of New Hampshire Award, 2020
Philadelphia Pastel Society Members Show, Honorary Award, 2020
Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod, For Pastels Only, Jack Richeson Award, 2019
Chester County Art Association, Motion, Award of Excellence, 2019
The Pastel Journal’s 2018 Pastel 100, 5th Place in the Animal and Wildlife Category
Philadelphia Watercolor Society’s 118th International Works on Paper, Thornton Oakley Memorial Award, 2018
Palette to Palate Plein Air, Holbein Artist Materials Award, 2018
Recent Exhibitions
Maryland Pastel Society Signature Members Exhibition, Biggs Museum of American Art, 2026
Philadelphia Pastel Society, National Exhibitions, 2026, 2025, 2023, 2022
Philadelphia Water Color Society International Works on Paper, 2026, 2022, 2021, 2019, 2018
Philadelphia Pastel Society Members Show, 2025-2022
Historic Yellow Springs Art Show, Yellow Springs, PA, 2027-2010
Gallery at Devon, 2026-2022
Chester County Art Association Members Shows, 2025-2010
Chester County Studio Tour Host Studio, 2025-2011
25 Days of Minis Online Show, 2024-2021
New Orleans Drawing Group, 2023
Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod Signature Members Show, Signature Strokes, 2025, 2023, 2021
Pastel Society of the West Coast, Web Show, 2023
Audubon Artists, 80th Annual Exhibition, Online, 202
Plein Air Brandywine Valley, 2022, 2019-2011
Malvern Retreat House Show, 2024-2022
International Association of Pastel Societies 2021 Juried Web Show 39th Open Division
Audubon Artists, Salmagundi Club, NYC, 2021
Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod, For Pastels Only, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016
Connecticut Pastel Society’s Renaissance in Pastel, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016
Palette to Palate Plein Air, 2021, 2018
FLOAT, Square Pear Gallery, Kennett Square, PA, 2021
BLOOMS, Square Pear Gallery, Kennett Square, PA 2021
Philadelphia Water Color Society Board Members Show, Square Pear Gallery, Kennett Square, PA, 2021
Degas Pastel Society’s Biennial National Exhibition, New Orleans, LA, 2021, 2018, 2016
Philadelphia Water Color Society Board Members Show, Gallery 222, 2020
Connecticut Pastel Society Members Show, 2020
International Association of Pastel Societies Web Show, 2018
Pastel Society of America‘s Enduring Brilliance, NYC, 2017
The Maryland Pastel Society’s Member Show and National Exhibition, 2019, 2017
Water, Gallery 222, Malvern, PA, 2018
Hardcastle Gallery Holiday Show, 2018, 2016
Denise holds BFA, MFA, and MEd Degrees. She formerly taught art at Padua Academy in Wilmington, DE, and on the graduate school, college, and in public and private school levels.
