Baker Artist Portfolios

Justin Winkel is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist and the founder of Winkel Gallery. After studying business in college, he decided to follow his passion for art and turn it into a career. In 2015, he opened Winkel Gallery—originally a personal studio and exhibition space where he could create and showcase his work.

What began as a small studio has since evolved into one of Baltimore’s longest-standing art galleries, featuring not only Justin’s permanent collection but also exhibitions from other talented local artists. Driven by a desire to support and uplift the Baltimore arts community, Justin transformed Winkel Gallery into a space where emerging and established artists alike can share their work and connect with a broader audience.

My creative practice is an exploration of the subconscious—a journey where intuition, emotion, and the rhythms of life converge on canvas. I work without reference photos, allowing each piece to evolve organically from an inner dialogue. My process is intimate—a dance between my thoughts and emotions, guided by personal experience and deeply inspired by humanity’s connection to the natural world. I embrace the unpredictable and fluid nature of creation, letting each brushstroke carry the weight of feeling and instinct.

Every painting is an invitation to connect on an emotional level. My work emerges as a spontaneous response to the world around me, capturing the interplay of light, texture, and movement that speaks to life’s constant evolution. I want viewers to feel something—to find their own emotions reflected in the shifting forms, colors, and energy of each piece. In this way, my art becomes a shared experience, a silent conversation between the seen and the felt, the tangible and the ephemeral.