Although January is almost over and New Year’s Eve seems far away, a visit to Gallery 80808 in Columbia might have you humming Auld Lang Syne.

“Should old acquaintance be forgot?” the song asks us. Over at the gallery, the answer is a resounding, “no.” You see, for the past 12 years, artists and friends Stephen Chesley, Mike Williams, Edward Wimberly and David Yaghjian have been meeting at the gallery to share their work from the past year. What started as something of a holiday party between friends has become an anticipated exhibition each winter.

Though friends and colleagues, the four men display striking differences in their artistic styles.

Much of Stephen Chesley’s work evokes places in the natural world untouched by man; his dark, brooding landscapes suggest Mother Nature’s awesome and primeval power.

Mike Williams’ love of fishing and music are both on display in his work. Fish (and their habitats) often are the subject of Williams’ exuberant, abstract paintings. His sometimes-frenzied brushstrokes are wild but nonetheless seem to harmonize with each other, like the unrestrained, almost chaotic notes in John Coltraine’s jazz.

Surprise is a major element in Edward Wimberly’s paintings, pastels and drawings as he weaves unexpected elements – textile, metal, porcelain, glass - into his surrealistic renderings.

Finally, David Yaghijan’s artwork is a contemplative and haunting exploration of the human experience. His paintings often feature vaguely amorphous figures in the throes of some all-to-human emotion. There’s something chilling about these portraits, whether they are experiencing joy, fear, rage or even just contemplating rising from bed.

The Winter Exhibition will run now through Feb. 7 at Gallery 80808/Vista Studios. For more information on the gallery, click here.