It’s been three years since New York City transplant John Zaso opened Hexum Gallery with a show of works from his own collection in a second-floor Montpelier suite. Since then, the unobtrusive venue has become a mainstay of bimonthly Art Walks and an excellent spot to find unusual pieces that reflect Zaso’s taste, which prioritizes pattern, repetition and an obsessive attention to medium — not to mention occasional kitsch and joyous gayness. In honor of the anniversary, “Echo” displays a selection of abstract works from Zaso’s personal collection. Many of them must be seen in person, such an all-black, medallion-like painting made from pine cones by Amber Renaye; Samantha Bittman’s trippy black-and-white weaving; and Morgan Blair’s surprisingly painterly “Youtube Channel Features Nondescript Man Sculpting Foam Avatars for Every One of His Multiple Personalities, Raccoon Videos, One Suspenseful InDesign Tutorial.” All raise tension between what’s carefully controlled and what is allowed to run wild.
‘Echo’: On view by appointment through January 30 at Hexum Gallery in Montpelier. hexumgallery.com
This article appears in January 21 • 2026.
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