08/12/2026
Brantford artist making waves at Art In The Workplace exhibit
Brantford man selected "featured artist" at Art In The Workplace exhibit
at McMaster Innovation Park.
Published Aug 11, 2026
Dean Ellis, of Brantford, is the featured artist at Art In The Workplace at the McMaster Innovation Centre, in Hamilton. The opening night for his exhibit was July 30 and continues to Oct. 29, 2026.
Long-time Brantford artist Dean Ellis has a couple of reasons to celebrate these days including a career highlight.
Ellis, 71, is the featured artist for “Art In The Workplace” a Hamilton-based not-for-profit that provides artists with an opportunity to display their work in a unique setting.
“Hamilton has this place, it’s called the McMaster Innovation Park (MIP) and a couple of times of the year they showcase the work of artists,” Ellis said. “It’s really something special because there is a lot of great artwork on display but I’m there as the ‘featured artist’ and in terms of career highlights, that’s right up there.”
As the featured artist, Elli’s work occupies the prime viewing spot for anyone walking into MIP, at 175 Longwood Rd. S. His work was also featured in the program for the exhibit’s July 30 opening.
Occupied by more than 70 businesses, MIP is a centre for innovation and research. It has conference space, a cafe and fitness facilities for its tenants in addition to the park’s administrative offices.
Exhibits at Art In The Workplace are up year-round but change every three months.
“I would say the opening night was extraordinary,” said Brantford’s Joann Alho, who attended the opening night.
“The first thing I noticed upon arrival was the full parking lot. There were a lot of people there and a lot of artists, but what made it extraordinary for me was seeing Dean, someone from Brantford, as the featured artist.
Alho, a long-time support of the local arts scene and co-chair of the Brantford Symphony Orchestra Book Fair Committee, said she enjoyed hearing Ellis answer questions about his work from those in attendance.
A retiree, Ellis is a fourth-generation artist and graduate of Pauline Johnson Collegiate and the University of Guelph’s fine arts program. His degree includes a double major in art history. He worked in the graphic arts field for many years at Screenprint, which later became Storeimage Programs Inc.
Many Brantford residents have likely seen him taking photographs at various events and locations throughout the city over years. Residents have also had the opportunity to see his work on display at several local locations including Robertson Fine Arts Studio and Gallery, the former Brantford Station Coffee House and Gallery and the Paris Bohemian Gallery.
Ellis was also part of The Crawford Collective which displayed his pen and ink work as well as photography when it opened on King Street. The venue has since closed.
As a student at PJC, he had a stone carving which was exhibited at Glenhyrst Art Gallery.
“I enjoy exploring other forms of art and do a lot of different things including soap stone and wood carving and jewelry making,” he said. “Photography is a big part of what I do but my primary focus has been working with pen and ink.”
Meanwhile, Ellis said that since the opening of Art In The Workplace, which continues until Oct. 29, he has something else to celebrate.
“Two of pieces have been sold and that’s always a ‘feel good’ moment,” Ellis said. “It’s one thing to have your work on display, but when someone comes along, sees it, likes and wants to buy it, it’s a great feeling.
“It doesn’t get much better than that.”
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