On January 10, 1975, the newly established Nesto Gallery at Milton Academy opened its inaugural exhibition, showcasing 35 works by 1969 Milton Academy graduate William Nesto. That exhibit would set the stage for decades of artwork, life-long friendships and impactful teacher-student relationships.
Now, just over 50 years later, a multi-generational team of 10 current and former Nesto Gallery directors have assembled “Celebrating 50 Years of the Nesto Gallery,” a show that pulls 10 artists from the gallery’s half-century of solo exhibitions to present a thoughtful and robust cross section of visual art.
It’s hard to talk about the Nesto Gallery without first acknowledging the space’s namesake, the Nesto family, specifically Anne Nesto, who provided a grant to help establish the gallery in memory of her husband, and William’s father, R. William Nesto.
According to a statement by curator Bryan Cheney, “The arts had always been important for both parents and children of the Nesto family,” and their contribution allowed the gallery to make a statement that is still true today: “The visual arts are an essential component in the matrix of education at Milton Academy,” he wrote. “The Gallery is an idea, and a spirit made manifest in a space.”
Perhaps then, it is fitting that William Nesto’s 20’ x 6’ gouache on heavy rag paper painting, “Canto XXX,” dominates the far wall of the space. The overwhelming size and color of the luminous painting — especially when coupled with the legacy of the Nesto name — almost embodies a paternal role in the show, watching over the other works on display.