Dundas Valley School of Art Launches New Annual Artist Talk Series with Sandra Brewster

Sandra Brewster. Photo: Jalani Morgan

The Arthur Greenblatt Artist Talk Series Launches with Award‑Winning Artist Sandra Brewster

Friday, May 15, 2026, 7pm
Dundas Valley School of Art
Reserve a Seat

Dundas Valley School of Art (DVSA) is launching a new annual artist speaker program. The Arthur Greenblatt Artist Talk Series will debut on Friday, May 15, 2026, with acclaimed Canadian artist Sandra Brewster delivering the first free public talk at the school’s Dundas, ON, location.

Shortlisted for the 2025 Sobey Art Award and based in Toronto, Sandra Brewster is widely celebrated for work that honours Black and Caribbean diasporic culture. Her multidisciplinary practice—spanning drawing, painting, gel transfers, photography, video and mixed media—explores themes of Black joy, optimism and the layered experiences that shape Black life.

Sandra Brewster, Stripes, acrylic, photo-based gel transfer on wood panel (unique), 84 x 48in. Photo: Toni Hafkenscheid

“Sandra’s work is very rich. At first glance it might seem iconic or monumental, but there are so many nuanced layers of meaning, expert manipulations of media and subtle aesthetic choices,” says Sally McKay, DVSA’s Visual Arts Director. “It really rewards reflection and deeper viewing.”

Brewster holds a BFA from York University and a Master of Visual Studies from the University of Toronto. Her work has been exhibited internationally and appears in numerous public and private collections, including the Art Gallery of Ontario; the McMichael Canadian Art Collection; Los Angeles County Museum of Art; and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

The Arthur Greenblatt Artist Talk Series is a new initiative from DVSA and named in memory of the school’s former director who passed away in 2023. Supported by a grant from the HG Bertram Foundation, the series will feature leading national and international artists with a distinguished body of work and whose art engages with pressing contemporary themes.

“These public lectures will be a valuable learning opportunity for local artists, DVSA students and the broader community,” says Sally. “They offer a chance to hear directly from visiting artists about their work, passions and lived experience. We’ve dedicated the series to Arthur to honour his impact here. He was a true arts champion who worked tirelessly to make the visual arts more accessible.”

Sandra Brewster, In Queue 9, 2024, photo-based gel transfer on wood, 12 x 9in. Photo: Toni Hafkenscheid

Each visiting artist’s stay will consist of a two‑day itinerary—a public talk followed by mentorship sessions with students in DVSA’s three‑year Studio Fine Art Practice & Theory diploma program. These one‑on‑one meetings will provide the emerging artists with supportive, constructive feedback on their studio practice.

“We’re excited to revive a tradition from DVSA’s early decades, when well established artists regularly came to teach and lead conversations,” says Kathron Hann, Executive Director at DVSA. “Our goal is to bring in new voices and continue expanding our creative community. It also aligns with our continuing mission to develop a diverse and inclusive environment and increase access to the visual arts. We wanted to ensure the first talk in this series would be special and we’re delighted Sandra has agreed to come and share her work with us.”

For more information on the talk and to reserve a seat, visit dvsa.ca/sandra-brewster.

About Dundas Valley School of Art

One of Canada’s leading independent art schools, Dundas Valley School of Art (DVSA) has served the Hamilton, ON region since 1964 and provides high-quality and accessible visual arts education to over 8,000 registrants annually. Beginner to Advanced level programs are offered for individuals of all ages in art history, ceramics, drawing, jewellery-making, painting, printmaking, photography and sculpture, and are taught by more than 75 highly regarded faculty members who are also working artists. The school also offers a full-time diploma program in Studio Fine Art.

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