Scene: How the 1960s Transformed Canadian Art by Harry Malcolmson (2025)
Scene: How the 1960s Transformed Canadian Art
Harry Malcolmson
288 pages
2025Hardcover
Publisher: Aevo UTP (University Of Toronto Press)
ISBN: 978-1-4875-6026-3
10 x 8 x 1 inches
The 1960s transformed art in Canada. The Scene traces the remarkable reshaping of the Canadian art landscape during that era. Written by renowned art critic Harry Malcolmson, the book offers a captivating insider’s perspective on how a surge of artists, galleries, collectors, and critics propelled Canadian art into the global spotlight.
Malcolmson identifies the catalysts that ignited this artistic renaissance, including an outpouring of pride in the country linked to Canada's Centennial, Expos ’67, and the Toronto City Hall. With rich anecdotes and insights, the book paints a comprehensive portrait of the era, while showcasing over twenty portraits of influential Canadian artists. Richly illustrated, the book illuminates the totality of the Scene’s evolution, and delves into the impact of Canadian nationalism and economic prosperity on the Scene. It examines the rise of contemporary institutions, such as the Art Gallery of Ontario and the National Gallery of Canada, capturing the emergence of a modern Canadian identity. Ultimately, The Scene stands as a unique testament to a pivotal moment in cultural history, capturing the essence of the most impactful decade in the history of art in Canada.
Harry Malcolmson’s career includes practising securities and corporate law, Senior Officer at the Ontario Securities Commission, adviser to the Canadian Bankers Association and Project Leader on international assignments for the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the United Nation. The projects were undertaken in the Middle East (Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Saudi Arabia), South Asia (Malaysia and Pakistan), the Far East) (China, Sri Lanka and Korea) and the Caribbean (Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.)
Harry’s art criticism was published in Toronto, Canadian and International art publications. With his wife, Harry accumulated an important collection of international vintage photography. In 2014, the collection was donated to the Art Gallery of Ontario, as the Malcolmson Collection.
