John Halenko
(b. Hamilton, Ontario | Lives and works in St. Catharines, Canada)

John Halenko is a Canadian visual artist whose dynamic practice spans abstract painting and fine art photography. Known for his intuitive approach and sophisticated sense of spatial tension, Halenko creates works that resonate with collectors drawn to lyrical abstraction and quiet formalism. His paintings—layered, improvisational, and emotionally charged—are counterbalanced by photography that isolates the poetic in nature and the built environment.

Halenko studied painting and drawing at the Ontario College of Art (now OCAD University) during the early 1970s under the progressive direction of Roy Ascott. Influenced by esteemed mentors such as François Thepot and Graham Coughtry, his foundation in art was shaped by experimental and gestural modes of expression. In the 1980s, he built a successful career in advertising photography in New York City before returning to Toronto, where he continued to paint while maintaining his commercial work.

In painting, Halenko embraces process over destination. Each work evolves from instinct—an initial emotion or compositional idea—then shifts through layers of mark-making, with each gesture introducing its own visual voice. This method produces richly textured, spatially aware compositions that reward extended viewing.

His fine art photography seeks to reveal the poetic undercurrent within physical matter—using space, line, texture, and form to lead the viewer toward moments of quiet revelation. Whether working with a brush or a lens, Halenko’s work reveals an enduring sensitivity to balance, nuance, and visual harmony.

John Halenko’s paintings and photographs are held in private collections and have been exhibited in both commercial and independent galleries. As his work continues to evolve, it offers collectors a thoughtful dialogue between abstraction and observation, emotion and restraint.