Monticello, New York, a town of about 6,400 in Sullivan County, sits in the Catskills and reached its peak as a resort destination between the 1950s and 1970s when hundreds of country hotels and bungalow colonies drew visitors. Although only about two hours from Manhattan’s cultural hubs, Monticello long felt culturally distant from the city—until recent years brought renewed investment and creative energy.
© Ron Bernthal
Change accelerated after 2006, when Bethel Woods Center for the Performing Arts opened on the grounds of the 1969 Woodstock festival about 20 minutes away. Since then, a number of 19th-century downtown buildings have been restored, new art galleries have appeared in the region, and boutique hotels and notable restaurants have emerged. A growing wellness scene, including the YO1 Health Resort, and broader tourism promotion by the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association have added to the town’s renewal.
One of the most visible recent additions is Assembly, a 30,000-square-foot former Buick auto showroom dating to the 1940s that opened to the public in May 2022 as a contemporary art space. The warehouse-scale interior now hosts work by prominent Mexican and Japanese artists, with plans for additional installations and evolving exhibitions.
Bosco Sodi, founder © Ron Bernthal
“The building was a Ralph Kerr Buick dealership during the time I was growing up here,” said John Conway, a Sullivan County historian. Conway believes Kerr built the showroom in the 1940s. Located on Monticello’s broad Broadway, opposite the 1909 Beaux-Arts county courthouse, the structure sat vacant for years before its adaptive reuse as an arts venue.
Assembly is the project of Mexican-born, Brooklyn-based artist Bosco Sodi, who keeps a weekend home near Monticello. Sodi envisioned giving the community a large-scale, Dia Beacon–style space for contemporary art. He renovated the solid, industrial building into a dramatic setting that brings diverse work together—examples include ceramic vases by Eduardo Sarabia and a large wood-and-leather installation titled Pulso by Tania Candiani.
© Ron Bernthal
“I opened this art space to give something back to the community,” Sodi explained. The inaugural exhibition highlights contemporary sculpture from Mexico alongside Japanese works. Looking ahead, Assembly aims to host local school groups, expand programming, and is considering adding amenities such as a restaurant to enhance the visitor experience.
Assembly is open Thursday through Sunday, and viewings can be scheduled online at no cost. The project represents a broader cultural revival in Monticello, where restored architecture, new creative venues, and regional tourism initiatives are reshaping the town’s identity while honoring its history.