Dennis Burton (1933-2013) was an important Toronto artist, both as a creator and as a cultural advocate for his home city. Along with his contemporaries, Burton helped to encourage and promote the reputation of Canadian art internationally.

Along with such artists as Michael Snow, Joyce Wieland and Greg Curnoe, to mention a few, Burton was a key part of Av Isaac's stable of artists. These artists fused pop art with abstraction with a distinctively Canadian perspective. 

Burton, like his contemporaries, jolted the staid Toronto art scene by creating works with playful and erotic subject matter. His Garter Belt Series was particularly polemic as he not only shifted towards complete figuration, but included highly sexualized imagery. 

Throughout the 1960's Burton exhibited at the Isaac Gallery in both numerous solo and group shows. His first inclusion at the gallery was in 1959...the same year as this sensual watercolor. 

This work epitomizes Burton's work from the late 1950's and early 60's. While at first glance it appears to be an almost color-field-esque watercolor, upon closer inspection there is something decidedly anthropomorphic about the forms that allude to a knee fold, genitalia, an elbow crease etc.  

In addition to his successful exhibition history, Burton taught at Emily Carr University, the Ontario College of Art, Lethbridge University, and the New School of Art (among others). Outside of teaching and art making, Burton pursued interests in Jazz and music production. 

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Untitled ("Composition")

Watercolor and crayon on paper

Signed and dated 59 by the artist

23"H 17"W (work)

31"H 25"W (framed)

Very good condition