Philip Monk

Philip Monk is a Toronto writer. His most recent books include "Is Toronto Burning?: Three Years in the Making (and Unmaking) of the Toronto Art Scene" (Black Dog Publishing, 2016), and "Glamour is Theft: A User’s Guide to General Idea" (AGYU, 2012). He has also written monographs on Douglas Gordon, Stan Douglas, Jeremy Blake, and Fiona Tan, among others. In 2017, he was the recipient of a Governor General's Award in Visual and Media Arts for Outstanding Contribution.

Reviews• November 20, 2018

Homage to Oneself: Julian Schnabel Interprets the Musée d’Orsay

By Philip Monk

Imagine … imagine being invited by the Musée d’Orsay to interpret its magnificent collection while also including your own artwork in an exhibition of…

Reviews• September 5, 2018

O Narciso: The Streets Look Back at Hudinilson Jr.

By Philip Monk

Too marginal, or too resistant, to be an active player within contemporary Brazilian art to reap its rewards, Hudinilson Jr. has only recently gained…

Features, Reviews• July 18, 2017

That’s the Way to Do It!: The Fairy Tale Life of Ydessa Hendeles

By Philip Monk

Let’s start with the premise that Ydessa Hendeles is an artist. And why shouldn’t we? Is it the fact that she started as a…

Reviews• June 27, 2017

Nonsense! She Said: Marvin Gaye Chetwynd Pantomimes Politics in Paris

By Philip Monk

The bad news is Brexit. The good news (other than the recent British election) is that British humor, of the nonsense variety, is alive…

Reviews• October 26, 2016

Toronto the Good, in Two Histories

By Philip Monk

Sometimes you get the history you want. Sometimes you get the history you deserve. And sometimes you get the history that’s good for you….