Show Statement
Vermont artist Arthur Zorn’s current exhibition, Flowers for Nancy, is dedicated to his wife of 49 years, Nancy. On April 29, Nancy began an arduous journey that ended on February 17, 2026, when she passed away from complications of a stroke.
Throughout her illness, Nancy’s resilience, determination, courage, and deep gratitude never wavered—qualities that defined her throughout her life. She found joy in helping her son with filming and editing videos and cherished her many hobbies. Nancy was an integral part of her husband’s life and work, often working behind the scenes to help make things run smoothly at his public performances, church activities, art exhibitions, and home and garden projects.
Nancy loved caring for animals, especially her chickens, once tending to 22 at a time. She would wash their feet, nurse them when they were sick, and delight in their company. She shared that same love with many cats, dogs, and even a childhood pet duck.
Nancy also took great pride in the extensive flower gardens she and her husband nurtured together. Their home will remain a place of warmth and memories for family and friends. Arthur selected the paintings in Flowers for Nancy as a tribute to his beloved wife, with the hope that these works will find homes where they continue to remind others of love and joy.
More about Nancy and her life can be found in her obituary, which you are invited to read at www.guareandsons.com.
Zorn is an abstract expressionist painter working at the intersection of emotion, nature, and improvisation. Drawing inspiration from deconstructed florals and landscapes, his work reflects a spontaneous, intuitive process—much like how he improvised as a musician. He paints without a predetermined outcome, allowing rhythm, tempo, and feeling to shape each piece.
Using acrylics and a richly varied palette, he builds layered textures by veiling and revealing color, often scraping back the surface to uncover earlier moments in the painting. This dynamic interplay invites viewers to engage in a shared emotional and visual experience.
Whether creating personal or commissioned work, Zorn approaches each piece with mindfulness and openness. He sees his art as a living process that continues to evolve as it moves into the world, and he welcomes collaborative opportunities that push the boundaries between artist, artwork, and audience.
Bio
Arthur Zorn is a self-taught abstract impressionist who largely works with acrylic paint, found objects, and interdisciplinary mediums including music and film. His small and large-scale paintings depict deconstructed landscapes, abstracted natural objects, and emotions transcribed on the canvas. Although he was interested in the visual arts as a child in the Bronx, it wasn’t until he was established in his career in music education and performance in Vermont (Lyndon State College, B.S.) that he began to experiment with artistic expression outside of the music he composed. Zorn’s first solo visual art show, aptly named Improvisations, took place in 2004 at the Bundy Gallery in Waitsfield, VT.
Capitalizing on his interdisciplinary background, Zorn participated in multiple programs at the Mayapple Center for the Arts and Humanities and studied most notably with John Jerome O’Connor. At Mayapple, artists are encouraged to “cultivate imagination through artistic and intellectual cross-pollination in a distinctly twenty-first century climate.” There, Zorn experimented with the intersection between visual arts and music as he contemplated art activism, protest, and themes of climate change. His recent paintings reflect his concern with climate change and the increasingly warming planet.
Zorn’s paintings have appeared in multiple shows, venues, and art walks throughout Vermont. He was selected twice as the featured artist for the “Governor’s Art Exhibit” in Montpelier. The State of Vermont’s Supreme Court and Pavilion State Office house semi-permanent collections of Zorn’s work with forty-five paintings on display.
Zorn collaborates with private collectors who have commissioned original paintings and murals, and his paintings are housed in private collections throughout the United States including California, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, and Vermont. Zorn resides at his art studio in Barre, VT.
