Denise Bunkert is a local artist from Savage, Minnesota. 

Brilliantly colored landscapes and florals might draw you to take a closer look at  Denise Bunkert’s paintings but her passion as an artist, teacher, gardener, designer and traveler extend far beyond the city limits of Savage. 

As a professional artist and owner of Painted Places, Denise has studied master works of art, first-hand through her travels abroad. She has experienced painting in Monet’s Gardens in Giverny, France, and walking in the footsteps of Cezanne in Provence. Italy. Ireland and England also hold personal stories and memories  for this landscape painter.  

One recent trip to Barcelona, Spain seemed to change everything for Denise. Antoni Gaudi’s mosaics and stained-glass windows inspired Denise to develop  a new style of oil painting she calls “Crystal Impressionism”. Pallet knife and brushes are used to create thick brush strokes, like the impressionists and kaleidoscope shapes and colors crystalize light on her new canvases. She exhibits her work in local galleries and juried art fairs. For upcoming events visit: https://shop. painted-places.com/events. 

Denise is a master colorist, who loves to garden and shares her passion for  nature and color by designing paintings that exude happiness and add color and  life to interior spaces. In the permanent collection at the Minnesota Children’s Hospitals in St. Paul and Minneapolis, several of Bunkert’s large paintings adorn the walls bringing hope and healing to visitors and staff. Her work and teaching have helped raise money for charities including: the Angel Foundation, the Minnesota Children’s Hospitals and Make a Wish, the Ann Bancroft foundation, the  Wilder Foundation and Let, Love Live (Animal Rescue).  

Denise has published two limited edition books of her paintings and poems.  Essence: Nature in Vision & Verse, (published in Italy) and a book of paintings and  poems, Mirrors of the Soul: Reflections on Life’s Seasons (published in England)  in collaboration with English poet, Sir Richard Whitfield.  

To see more of Denise Bunkert’s work visit: www.DeniseBunkert.com 

*SAVE THE DATE: Denise plans to be a part of the Savage Area Art Festival to be held on  Oct. 11, 2025 and would love to see you there. Stay tuned for more information.