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Stephen Huneck

Artist Stephen Huneck

"In the world of struggling artists, Stephen Huneck's success has been meteoric. He is a strong believer in fate, and perhaps that is part of the explanation. There is no doubt that his figures are whimsical, amusing and charming, but they also have the power to evoke an immediate emotional response in anyone who sees them. Therein lies their wide and ever-growing appeal." ~ Roberta Vesley, Library Director, AKC.

Stephen Huneck's home and studio are in St. Johnsbury, Vermont which he shares with his wife, Gwen and his three dogs. Two Black Labs Artie and Sally and Molly a Golden Retriever. Stephen and Gwen have totally furnished their home with Stephen's artwork. He works in his private studio attached to their house. Near their home is Dog Mountain where the Dog Chapel is located. You can often meet Stephen at his primary gallery in Woodstock, VT on Saturdays personalizing books and artwork.

"I am a hand-carver, I love the texture you can only get by hand" seen here in his studio with his Dalmatian, Dottie. Stephen has a collection of tools consisting of over 150 chisels, 30 hand planes and axes. As a hand carver, Stephen finds himself carving almost everyday of the year, taking time off to walk with his dogs.

A self-taught sculptor, Stephen started out as an antique furniture picker. "I learned so much about good design and how to build furniture that lasts forever."

Luckily he was discovered after doing his very first woodcarving, an angel. Stephen then began his life as an artist. In 1994 Stephen suffered from Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome after falling down a flight of stairs which left him in a coma for two months. The doctors were not hopeful but with the help of his wife, Gwen, Stephen had a full recovery. He had to relearn everything from how to walk to how to sign his name. Just before the accident, Stephen was inspired to do a series of woodcut prints based on his dog Sally . After waking up from the coma, Stephen immediately began work on those woodcuts. The first woodcut he carved was "Life Is A Ball" celebrating his new found life.

The Dog Chapel in St. Johnsbury, Vermont

After this near death experience, Stephen had a vision to build a Dog Chapel, "A place where people can go and celebrate the spiritual bond they have with their dogs. It is the largest artwork of my life and my most personal." Stephen has also written 7 books inspired by his black Lab, Sally. The classic My Dog's Brain and a series of books for young (and young at heart) readers Sally Goes to the Beach , Sally Goes to the Mountains , Sally Goes to the Farm , Sally Goes to the Vet , The Dog Chapel , Sally's Snow Adventure and the newly released Sally Get's A Job illustrated with his vibrant woodcut prints. Stephen has carved out a niche in the art world as a sculptor with a playful twist.

At all Stephen Huneck Galleries dogs are welcome and there are always a good supply of treats on hand, a small gesture to thank dogs for all they give us". -Stephen Huneck

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NEWS FROM The New York Times: FEBRUARY 2010!

Stephen Huneck, Artist of Dogs, Dies at 61

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Stephen Huneck, an internationally known artist, woodcarver and furniture maker whose most famous work was the Dog Chapel, a hand-built church in Vermont to which dogs and their owners can go for quiet reflection and spiritual renewal, died on Jan. 7 in Littleton, N.H. He was 61 and lived in St. Johnsbury, Vt.

The latest on the arts, coverage of live events, critical reviews, multimedia extravaganzas and much more.

Mr. Huneck shot himself, his wife, Gwen, said. She said he had been despondent over having had to lay off most of the employees of his art business that week.

A largely self-taught carver, Mr. Huneck achieved a level of success that comes to few outsider artists. His work was sought after by collectors, exhibited widely and featured often in the news media. The Dog Chapel has been a popular tourist attraction since it opened in 2000.

Much of Mr. Huneck’s artwork centered on dogs, from life-size sculptures and woodcut prints to inexpensive items like clothing and mouse pads. (His remaining work continues to be sold through his Web site,

At its height about a decade ago, Mr. Huneck’s business was a multimillion-dollar concern. He was then a partner in a half-dozen Stephen Huneck galleries around the country.

He also wrote and illustrated a series of children’s books starring Sally, a Labrador retriever. Among them is “Sally Goes to the Beach” (Abrams, 2000), which appeared briefly on the New York Times children’s best-seller list.

He was the subject of a book, “The Art of Stephen Huneck” (Abrams, 2004), by Laura Beach.

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Mr. Huneck’s masterwork was the Dog Chapel, which he began building in 1997. It sits on Dog Mountain, a vast park-like space he and his wife owned near St. Johnsbury. Dog Mountain, which is open to the public at no charge, includes a gallery, hiking trails and an agility course for dogs.

Small, modest and white, the chapel resembles a 19th-century New England church from the outside, apart from the steeple topped by a winged Labrador. A sign proclaims: “Welcome: All Creeds, All Breeds. No Dogmas Allowed.”

Inside, the four pews, handmade by Mr. Huneck, are supported by carved wooden dogs. Stained-glass windows depict dogs in various poses. The walls are almost entirely covered with handwritten notes to departed pets, placed there by grieving visitors.

“I’ve learned so much more about love from my dogs than I ever did from my parents or the church,” Mr. Huneck told The Chicago Tribune in 1997. “They’re really great teachers. They love you with their whole heart.”

Stephen Huneck was born on Oct. 8, 1948, in Columbus, Ohio, and reared in Sudbury, Mass. (The family name is pronounced HYOO-neck.) Severely dyslexic and unhappy in a home he described afterward as turbulent, he left at 17 “with 33 cents in his pocket,” his wife said.

Mr. Huneck later studied at the Massachusetts College of Art, before becoming an antiques dealer. Through repairing wooden pieces, he taught himself how to carve. In 1984, one of his original carvings caught the eye of a New York dealer, and he was soon making art full time.

In addition to his wife, the former Gwendolyn Ide, Mr. Huneck is survived by his parents, five sisters and a brother.

Two books written and illustrated by Mr. Huneck, “Sally’s Great Balloon Adventure” and “Even Bad Dogs Go to Heaven,” are scheduled to be published by Abrams this year.

Balloon-Book

Dear Stephen,

It helps me to know that God's love envelopes you. God's love surrounds us all. Your love envelopes me. The love of everyone who knew you, dogs, people and a few cats send their love.

We all love you. We all miss you. We will remember you always.

Your Loving Wife, Gwen

stevegwen