Dennis Hunkler

Dennis Hunkler’s artistic journey is marked by wonderful curiosity, versatility, and a deep engagement with some of Canada’s most influential creative circles.  Originally arriving from California in 1965 to study art, he enrolled in Toronto’s experimental New School of Art, an alternative to the Ontario College of Art, where his talent earned him an informal diploma from renowned, innovative artist Dennis Burton. During these formative years, Hunkler immersed himself in the vibrant art scene, spending time with a member of the Group of Seven, A.Y. Jackson, near Honey Harbour. He also encountered a private collection of works by the landscape painter, Frederick Banting, and worked as a studio assistant to the abstract artist Jack Bush, one of the founders of Painters Eleven.

Driven by a desire to further his education, Hunkler, continued his studies at the Art Institute of San Francisco, later returning to Canada, where he has since built a richly varied career. Hunkler’s practice spans painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, and multimedia, mastering each project. Since relocating to Windsor in 2007, he has become an active and highly valued member of its dynamic arts community, one he describes as both diverse and steadily gaining wider recognition. (Spring 2026, Issue 11 - Dennis Hunkler: On Painting and Poetry, Interview by Olga Klekner)

Contact: dennishunkler@hotmail.com