Toni Hamel

Howdy (The Final Frontier) - surreal, contemporary, figurative, oil on canvas

2025

"I describe my work as an illustrated commentary on human frailties or, more precisely, as a compendium of unintended consequences. Rooted in storytelling, my art practice draws from personal experiences and outward observations to create thematic bodies of work that reflect on and interpret the psychological unease of our anthropocentric age. Pointing to historical references, popular culture and personal environmental concerns, my satirical narratives ultimately question our behaviour while alerting us about the repercussions of our actions." Toni Hamel Born in Italy in 1961, Toni Hamel acquired a BFA at the Accademia di Belle Arti of Lecce in Italy (1983). In her early twenties, she moved to Canada and furthered her studies, attaining a post-graduate Certificate in Computer Graphics from Sheridan College (Canada, 1991). Hamel is the recipient of three Ontario Arts Council grants (2011, 2012, 2013), the Golden Key National Honour Society Award from the University of Toronto (Specialist Programme in Psychology, 1997), the Lubiam Prize (Milan, 1983) and many other awards. Her work is regularly featured in Canadian and international Arts & Culture magazines, and it has been extensively exhibited in public and commercial galleries and art fairs in Canada, the USA, Europe, Asia and Australia. Among other international private collections, Toni Hamel's work can be found in the homes of Mr. J.J. Abrams, Ms. Whoopi Goldberg, and Ms. Julia Roberts. Public collections include the Archives of Ontario/Government of Ontario, the Robert McLaughlin Gallery, and the Omer DeSerres Corporation. Toni Hamel lives and works in Kingston, Ontario.