Since opening in 2021, Hexton Gallery has become part of a cultural landscape decades in the making. From Aspen’s deep ties to art and design to the artists, collectors, and ideas shaping the town today, a sense of place has remained central to the gallery’s evolution. Founder Bob Chase reflects on Hexton’s beginnings, the changing cultural landscape of Aspen, and what it means to build a gallery in the mountains with a perspective that reaches far beyond them.
Tell us about Hexton Gallery: What year did you open in Aspen and what artists do you represent/exhibit and in what mediums?
We opened in 2021. I had been living in Aspen for 12 years as a private art dealer in addition to running an artist management and publishing business I had built in the early 90’s, doing project-based work with contemporary artists such as Eric Fischl, Fred Tomaselli and Tony Fitzpatrick among many others. I had strong relationships in the art world but at that time did not represent any artists in the typical gallery sense. We opened the Aspen gallery with a sold-out show for my good friend, New York based artist Michael DeFeo, and things built very quickly from there.
We have exhibited over 50 artists across 26 solo exhibitions and group shows. We represent the Estate of Christo and Jeanne-Claude as well as several emerging and mid-career artists such as Andy Millner, Marcos Acosta, Carlos Rolon, Evan Hecox, Liz Nielsen, and Scott Avett. Some of my favorite artists we have exhibited multiple times include Rachel Gerrard, Rodrigo Valenzuela, Liz Markus, Nancy Friedland, and Ernesto Burgos. We work extensively with California light and space artist Phillip K Smith, one of the first Desert X participants, and through Phillip have expanded our footprint to major installations across the country. We have exhibited many of these artists alongside historic figures such as Kenneth Noland, Larry Poons, Friedel Dzubas, and Andy Warhol, all of whom have ties to Aspen’s art history.
How would you describe your focus in terms of who you represent and the type of art you show?
My partner, Agustina Mistretta, and I both have an insatiable love for Aspen and the cultural history of this town. It is one of the most robust art history narratives in the country, beginning in the 1940’s when Elizabeth and Walter Paepcke founded the Aspen Institute and hired Bauhaus artist Herbert Bayer to give visual voice to their utopian ideas. Our program is rooted in a series of annual exhibitions celebrating Aspen’s cultural past and linking it to the vibrant and contemporary sensibility here today.
"We also share a passion for artists who explore the natural world and help change our perception of the environment around us. This idea is not tied specifically to environmentally based artists but rather artists who help articulate our place within the larger context of the world. It’s a beautiful metaphor for the place we live, where the mountains and landscape make us question such ideas all the time." - Bob Chase
What do you think of the state of contemporary art in Aspen? How have you seen it change over the years? If so, can you tell us a little bit about how you feel it's changed?
There is always change, but to me it feels like a further amplification of Aspen’s original cultural foundation: we still have the Institute, but now we have a permanent museum dedicated to Herbert Bayer on the institute campus. The Aspen Art Museum has become an international voice, Anderson Ranch is one of the most coveted art making facilities in the world, the Music Festival continues to be world class, and we have recently added the Aspen Art Fair which quickly established itself as an important moment on the international calendar.
Many culture-forward people moved here post-covid looking for an alternative to larger cities, but they still wanted access to great contemporary art, music, discourse etc. It’s exciting as a gallerist because it continues to provide an opportunity to show relevant contemporary art to a receptive audience. There is also an amazing sense of discovery for visitors to this town. They don’t necessarily expect to walk into a gallery in the mountains and see Larry Poons and Christo alongside younger artists such as Ernesto Burgos and Thomas McDonell. But that’s exactly the caliber of what you can see, either before an epic hike in the summer or after a day of skiing in the winter.
How would you say Hexton stands out in the market? What initiatives do you take to ensure it does?
Our passion for exposing Aspen’s art history within the context of newer artists has been a gap in this town, and shedding light on it has been an important differentiating factor. Agustina’s Latin roots have opened doors to some incredibly exciting artists such as Brazil’s Rebecca Sharp, Chilean artists Rodrigo Valenzuela and Ernesto Burgos, Argentinian Marcos Acosta and the Puerto Rican American Carlos Rolon.
Although we are deeply local, we are also interested in being a part of the national conversation, so our exhibitions in cities outside Aspen allow us a broader footprint together with our participation in major art fairs.
Perhaps the biggest differentiating factor for the gallery is co-founding the Aspen Art Fair at the historic Hotel Jerome. We invite 38 galleries from around the world to exhibit across 18 built-wall art fair booths and 18 hotel room takeovers. It has become a foundational part of the summer season and allows us to collaborate with our local institutions and gallery friends from around the globe.
How often are you changing the exhibit and /or selection of art. When you open a new exhibit, do you host opening events? What is your main source of marketing for your artists?
We typically mount 6 exhibitions a year, with opening receptions and a chance to meet visiting artists. Together with those activities, we host intimate dinners in the gallery and special events out in the landscape, including our Breakfast at Bonnie’s each Saturday in the winter on Aspen Mountain.
The gallery organizes travel experiences where interested collectors can sign up for 2-3 day excursions to artist studios and museums around the country. Our gallery team spends the offseason spread out in LA and New York where we also host studio tours or small collector and artist dinners.
Our marketing strategy has been simple - to build deep friendships with our collectors and artists and let our audience expand from those connections.
"We are interested in fostering a community of art more than we are in simply transacting around it. While this is our profession, it is also a passionate way of life, and we are excited about sharing that." - Bob Chase
What do you think the challenges are, as well as the benefits, of having a gallery in Aspen?
Aspen is a unique place to do business. I mountain bike, skin, or ski virtually every morning. In the summers, I start my day jumping into the roaring fork river, then get to work. I love to share the outdoors with collectors, curators, gallerists, and artists and have found that more can get done when I am outside vs in. The landscape can inspire profound creativity and before you know it you can conceive new projects, exhibitions, or installations under the cover of a pine forest or looking out at some of America’s most coveted vistas.
The challenge can be proximity to the world’s major art centers, but we have used that as an opportunity more than a hinderance. It forces us to create engaging experiences out in the world and also connect more deeply with our collectors when they are here.
What is unique about the collectors’ scene in Aspen? Have you noticed any trends in the pieces and types of artists Aspen collectors are drawn to?
I correlate this to a broader concept: Aspen is not easy to get to, nor is it easy to live here. Aspen is expensive, travel can be challenging, and the elements always play a factor. The result is a town that prioritizes passion over all else. This manifests itself in a collector base that is palpably curious, ambitious, and true champions of art and creativity. Because of that, we can be ambitious alongside them. It is a privilege for us as a gallery and an exciting proposition for our artists.
