The 2025 Canadian Rug Hooking Artist of the Year is
Dr. Halina Bienkowski!

 Dr. Halina Bienkowski

Dr. Halina Bienkowski originally from Poland, has been rug hooking since 2003.  She is a retired family physician who practiced in Amherst, Nova Scotia for more than 25 years.   

Dr. Bienkowski originally turned to oil painting to express herself artistically.  After realizing that sharing her work space with three mischievous Polish Lowland Sheepdogs might not end well, she started looking for a new medium, rug hooking. When asked why she rug hooks, she replies, “The answer is simple:  Pleasure!”

An interest in human nature and connections through verbal and non verbal communication is reflected in her work.  She includes people in almost all of her rugs.  She also includes the critters who share their spaces with us here in rural Nova Scotia.

Her work has received recognition in several journals including: Rug Hooking Magazine (2004); The Medical Post (2009) and Celebration of Hand-Hooked Rugs XXII (Honourable Mention)

Here is a selection of Dr. Bienkowski's exhibit:

"Roosters"

"Roosters"

Designed and Hooked by:

Dr. Halina Bienkowski

"Zany Zebras""Zebras"

(Magnetic Hill Zoo)

Designed and Hooked by:

Dr. Halina Bienkowski

"Leopards"

"Lounging Leopards"

(Magnetic Hill Zoo)

Designed and Hooked by:
Dr. Halina Bienkowski

To view her other rug hooking works of art visit her  Facebook page:  “Hooked on Rugs”.