Michael Torosian curriculum vitae

Selected Group Exhibitions

2010
AIGA 50 Books/50 Covers, AIGA National Design Center, New York;
Alcuin Society National Award Winning Books, Frankfurt Book Fair, Leipzig Book Fair, Germany.

2009
Alcuin Society National Award Winning Books, Canadian Embassy, Tokyo; Simon Fraser University, Burnaby; Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, Halifax.

2008
An American Gallery, Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, State University of New York at New Paltz
The Public Stage: Selected Street Photographs from the Mira Godard Study Centre, School of Image Arts, Ryerson University, Ryerson Gallery, Toronto
Photographic Reflections: Michel Lambeth and Michael Torosian, Museum London, London, Ontario

2007
25 Years: A Celebration - (Lumiere Press, The Making of the Book), Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York

2006
Best Book Design From All Over the World, Leipzig Book Fair, Leipzig, Germany
A Collected View: Ten Years of Photography Acquisitions: 1995 – 2005, City of Toronto Archives
Alcuin Society National Award Winning Books, Design Exchange, Toronto
From Fair to Fine: 20th Century Photography Books That Matter, Stephen Daiter Gallery, Chicago
Photo Libris, Howard Greenberg Gallery, New York

2005
Regarding Av, The Justina M. Barnicke Gallery, Hart House, University of Toronto
Book Art International, Frankfurt Book Fair, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

2004
22nd Annual Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada, McLennan Library, McGill University, Montreal; Vaughan Memorial Library, Acadia University, Wolfville
NOW and The ’80s: A Photographic Exhibition, Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto

2000
Arts 2000, Gallery Stratford, Stratford, Ontario*
From the Collection: Personalities, Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, Ottawa

1996
Art of the Flanêrie: A Glance Back at Canadian Street Photography, Kenderdine Gallery, University of Saskatchewan

1995
From the Collection, Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, Ottawa
Contemporary Canadian Bookworks, Embassy of Canada, Tokyo, Japan*
Fine Printing: The Private Press in Canada, Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto*

1994
Michael Snow Project [portraits of the artist], Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto
The Witkin Gallery 25th Anniversary, The Witkin Gallery, New York

1993
Facing History: Portraits from the National Archives of Canada, National Archives of Canada, Ottawa
Art of the Book '93, Ontario Craft Council Gallery, Toronto*

1992
Small Villages: The Isaacs Gallery in Toronto, Art Gallery of Hamilton, Hamilton, Ontario

1991
AIGA Book Show, American Institute of Graphic Arts, New York*
Limited Edition Books, Spectrum Gallery, Rochester, New York

1988
Fotografia Canadiense Contemporanea, Consejo Mexicano de Fotografia/Museo Carrillo Gil, Mexico City*
Photoperspectives '88, Presentation House Gallery, Vancouver, British Columbia
AIGA Book Show, American Institute of Graphic Arts, New York*

1987
Alternatives '87, Ohio University School of Art, Athens, Ohio
AIGA Book Show, American Institute of Graphic Arts, New York*

1986
Commitment to Vision, Museum of Art, University of Oregon, Eugene
The 1985 Annual Show, Maine Photographic Workshops, The Puck Building, New York

1984
Contemporary Canadian Photography from the Collection of the National Film Board, Edmonton Art Gallery*

1983
Latitudes and Parallels, Winnipeg Art Gallery*

1978
Canadians, Mount St. Vincent University, Halifax*

1975
Exposure, Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto*

* toured

Bibliography

Chronological Entries/By Michael Torosian

Books

Signature 3: Michael Torosian: Nocturne. Ottawa: National Film Board, 1977. Also published as Impressions, No. 17 (1977).

Lunarglyphics. Toronto: Lumiere Press, 1981.

Michel Lambeth: Photographer. Ottawa: National Photography Collection, Public Archives of Canada, 1986.

Michel Lambeth. The Confessions of a Tree Taster. Preface by Michael Torosian. Toronto: Lumiere Press, 1987.

Aurora. Essay by Shirley J. Madill. Interview by Carol Lowrey. New York and Toronto: Marcuse Pfeifer Gallery/Lumiere Press, 1987.

Extempore: David Heath: Reflections and Ruminations on Art and Personal History. Elicted and Edited by Michael Torosian. Toronto: Lumiere Press, 1988.

Toronto Suite. Photographs and Interview by Michael Torosian. Historical Commentary by Dennis Reid. Toronto: Lumiere Press, 1989.

Rafael Goldchain: Nostalgia for an Unknown Land. Introduction by Alberto Manguel. Essay by Michael Torosian. Toronto: Lumiere Press, 1989.

The Siskind Variations: A Quartet of Photographs and Contemplations by Aaron Siskind. Orchestrated and Edited by Michael Torosian. Toronto: Lumiere Press, 1990.

Homage: The Lumiere Press Collection. Series Editor Michael Torosian. [Boxed Set of Homage Volumes I - V] Toronto: Lumiere Press, 1991.

Frederick Sommer: The Constellations That Surround Us: The Conjunction of General Aesthetics and Poetic Logic in an Artist's Life. Surveyed and Edited by Michael Torosian. Toronto: Lumiere Press, 1992.

Anatomy. Toronto: Lumiere Press, 1993.

Anatomy. Introduction by Michael Bell. Exhibition catalogue. Ottawa: Carleton University Art Gallery, 1994.

Lewis Hine Ellis Island: Memories and Meditations of Walter Rosenblum on the Life and Work of an American Artist. Edited with an Introduction by Michael Torosian. Toronto: Lumiere Press, 1995.

Dave Heath: A Dialogue With Solitude. Exhibition catalogue. New York: Simon Lowinsky Gallery, 1997.

Gordon Parks: Harlem: The Artist's Annotations on a City Revisited in Two Classic Photographic Essays. Introduction and Interview by Michael Torosian. Toronto: Lumiere Press, 1997.

Edward Burtynsky: Residual Landscapes: Studies of Industrial Transfiguration. Interview by Michael Torosian. Toronto: Lumiere Press, 2001.

Manufactured Landscapes: The Photography of Edward Burtynsky. Essays by Lori Pauli, et al. Interview by Michael Torosian. Ottawa: National Gallery of Canada/Yale University Press, 2003.

Dave Heath: Korea: Photographs 1953-1954: Fiftieth Anniversary Portfolio. Introduction and Interview by Michael Torosian. New York and Toronto: Lumiere Press, 2004.

The Art of Frederick Sommer: Photography, Drawing, Collage. Essay by Keith F. Davis. Interview by Michael Torosian. New Haven and London: Frederick and Frances Sommer Foundation/Yale University Press, 2005.

Isaacs Seen. Donnalu Wigmore, ed. Essay “The Meeting Place” by Dennis Reid and Michael Torosian. Toronto: Hart House, University of Toronto, 2005.

An American Gallery. Essay by Lyle Rexer. Commentaries by Howard Greenberg, Edited with an Introduction by Michael Torosian. Toronto: Lumiere Press, 2007.

Paul Caponigro: On Prior Lane: A Firefly's Light: The Cushing Inteviews. Edited with an Introduction by Michael Torosian. Toronto: Lumiere Press, 2008.

Steichen: Eduard et Voulangis. Introduction by Howard Greenberg. Essay by Michael Torosian. Toronto: Lumiere Press, 2011.

Periodicals

"Collecting Photographs." Financial Post Magazine (10 February 1979): 9.

"Newsbreak: The Controversy Continues." Photo Communique 1 (September/October 1979): 1-2.

"Memento Mori." Photo Communique 1 (November/December 1979): 15.

"Sanctuary." Descant 29 11 (1980): [8-25].

"Thinking of Hippolyte." Photo Communique 2 (May/June/July/August 1980): 2-4.

"The Fifties Focus." Toronto Life (June 1981): 8-62, 64.

"Aurora." Descant 49 16 (Summer 1985): [35-51].

Snead, Vivian and Torosian, Michael. "Michel Lambeth: Documentary Humanism." Camera Canada, No. 71 (Spring 1987): 18-21.

"Anatomy." Descant 76/7 23 (Spring/Summer 1992): [171-189].

"A Glassful of Life, Art and Cold Beer." Globe and Mail, 21 November 1992.

"Exhibit for the Defense: The Selling of Robert Mapplethorpe." Globe and Mail, 28 November 1992.

"Marey's Starring Role in Developing Film." Globe and Mail, 21 August 1993.

"Galatea and Pygmalion." Descant 83 24 (Winter 1993-94): 125-141.

"Printer Savant." Descant 90 26 (Fall 1995): 49-54, reprinted in The Printer 10 (February 1996): 6-[7].

"Mr B." The Printer 11 (March 1997): 11.

"The Poetic Vision of Michel Lambeth." Azure 14 (November/December 1998): 15.

"Electra." Descant 103 29 (Winter 1998): [189]-[198].

"3,2,1 Contact." Azure 15 (May/June 1999): 22.

"View Master." Azure 15 (November/December 1999): 14.

"Walker Evans." Azure 16 (May/June 2000): 100.

"Diane Arbus Exposed." Azure 16 (September/October 2000): 38.

"A Printer’s Tale." The Printer 16 ( April 2002): 7, 10.

‘Design Casebook: Lumiere Press.’ Parenthesis 17 (Autumn 2009): 34-37.

Portfolios

Portfolio 1976. [Limited edition, ten photographs from the exhibition Sanctuary] Toronto: Privately printed, 1976.

The Reflection of Existence: A Selection of Fifteen Photographs by Michel Lambeth. Edited by Michael Torosian. Toronto: Lumiere Press, 1982.

Aurora. [Limited edition, ten photographs] Toronto: Lumiere Press, 1988.

Toronto Suite. [Limited edition, twenty-four photographs] Toronto: Lumiere Press, 1989.

Anatomy. [Limited edition, ten photographs] Toronto: Lumiere Press, 1993.

Chronological Entries/ On Michael Torosian

Books

Exposure. Exhibition catalogue. Toronto: Art Gallery of Ontario, 1975, p. 46-47.

Latitudes and Parallels. Exhibition catalogue. Winnipeg: Winnipeg Art Gallery, 1983, p. 98-99.

Contemporary Canadian Photography from the Collection of the National Film Board. Exhibition catalogue. Edmonton: Hurtig, 1984, p. 60.

The Maine Photographic Workshops Nineteen Eighty Five Annual Show. Exhibition catalogue. Rockport, Maine: Maine Photographic Workshops, 1985, p. 19.

Commitment to Vision. Exhibition catalogue. Eugene, Oregon: Photography at Oregon Gallery, Museum of Art, University of Oregon, 1986, p. 33.

Graphic Design USA: 8 The Annual of the American Institute of Graphic Arts. New York: Watson-Guptill, 1987, p. 182.

Langford, Martha. "Michael Torosian." In Contemporary Photographers, p. 1043-1045. Chicago: St. James Press, 1988.

Graphic Design USA: 9 The Annual of the American Institute of Graphic Arts. New York: Watson-Guptill, 1988, p. 179.

Horenstein, Henry. The Photographer's Source. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1989, p. 198, 199.

Graphic Design USA: 12 The Annual of the American Institute of Graphic Arts. New York: Watson-Guptill, 1991, p. 199, 211.

The Art of the Book '93. Exhibition catalogue. Toronto: The Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild, 1993, p. 109.

Foy, Lydia. Facing History: Portraits from the National Archives of Canada. Exhibition catalogue. Ottawa: National Archives of Canada, 1993, p. 139.

Fine Printing: The Private Press in Canada. Exibition catalogue. Toronto: The Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild, 1995, p. 44-46.

Graphic Design USA: 16 The Annual of the American Institute of Graphic Arts. New York: Watson-Guptill, 1995, p. 306.

The Alcuin Citations: 1998. Vancouver: The Alcuin Society, 1998, p. 39.

The Alcuin Society: 20th Annual Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada: 2001. Vancouver: The Alcuin Society, 2002, p. 44.

The Alcuin Society 2003 Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada. Vancouver: The Alcuin Society, 2004, p. 14.

Silversides, Brock. Now and the ’80s. Exhibition Catalogue. Toronto: Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto, 2004, p. [38].

The Alcuin Society 2004 Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada. Vancouver: The Alcuin Society, 2005, p. 8.

From Fair to Fine: 20th Century Photography Books That Matter. Chicago: Stephen Daiter Gallery, 2006.

The Alcuin Society 2007 Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada. Vancouver: The Alcuin Society, 2007, p. 26.

The Alcuin Society 2008 Awards for Excellence in Book Design in Canada. Vancouver: The Alcuin Society, 2008, p. 23.

AIGA 50 Books 50 Covers of 2009. New York: AIGA, 2010, p. 20.

Periodicals

Lambeth, Michel. "Michael Torosian." Proof Only, 22 February 1974.

Kritzwizer, Kay. "The Photographer Blooms as Artist." Globe and Mail, 29 January 1975.

Purdie, James. "Photos Reach Outward in AGO Exhibit." Globe and Mail, 3 November 1975.

Sanderson, Vicky. "Two Angles on Photography: Paired Shots, Pared Portraits." Globe and Mail, 20 October 1981.

Hollet, Michael. "Michael Torosian." Now, 14-20 March 1985.

Lowrey, C.D. "Michael Torosian, Aurora: A Conversation with C.D. Lowrey, June 1985." Descant 49 16 (Summer 1985): 55-58.

Moldofsky, Mitch. "In Review." Art Post 3 (August/September 1985): 11-12.

Morrison, Emily. "Michael Torosian: Unlimited Vistas for a Limited Edition Press." Light Impressions Review, No. 19 (Winter 1987): 5-7, 13.

Hickey, Gloria. "Toronto Image Works – Indeed!" Azure 4 (June 1987): 11.

"The Photo Review National Photographic Competition 1988." The Photo Review 11 (Summer 1988): [10].

Goin, Peter. "The Fine Art of Fine Printing." Bloomsbury Review 9 (November/December 1989): 22.

"The Photo Review National Photographic Competition 1989." The Photo Review 12 (Summer 1989): [14].

Reeves, John. "Lightness of Being." Canadian Art 6 (September 1989): 94-97.

Hlynsky, David. "Breathless Between Pages: Lumiere's Latest Edition." Views 6 (November 1989): 9.

Taylor, Kate. "Low-Tech Love: Michael Torosian's Passion for Obsolete Printing Equipment and Beautiful Books." Applied Arts 5 (Spring 1990): 59-60, 62.

Vincent, Isabel. "Art Notes." Globe and Mail, 21 July 1990.

Ross, Val. "Being True to Type." Globe and Mail, 30 December 1991, reprinted in The Printer 6 (January 1992): 6.

Taylor, Kate. "Art About." Globe and Mail, 16 October 1992.

Mays, John Bentley. "Anatomy of a Successful Nude." Globe and Mail, 29 December 1993.

Baele, Nancy. "Powerful Photographs Convey Sensitive Images at Heart of Being Human." Ottawa Citizen, 28 February 1994.

Taylor, Kate. "Visual Arts Review." Globe and Mail, 30 March 1994.

Roseborough, Everett. "Lumiere Press." Photographic Canadiana 21 (May/June 1995): 6-8.

Newman, Alex. "Turning Back the Pages." Azure 12 (May/June 1995): 24-26.

Schonauer, David. "The Traditional Values of Torosian." American Photo 7 (January/February 1996): 96.

Mumford, Ted. "When Obsession Goes Against the Grain." Now, 2-8 April 1998.

Bonenfant, John. "Michael Torosian: Interview." Descant 103 29(Winter 1998): 199-202.

Speer, Lance. "Why You Know What You Think You Know: Independent Photography Book Publishers." 21st, The Journal of Contemporary Photography, Volume II (1999): 151-155.

Dykstra, Jean. "Michael Torosian: Doing Things The Old-Fashioned Way." The Photograph Collector 25(February 11, 2004): 2-4.

Goddard, Peter. "You Can Judge a Book by its Typeface." Toronto Star, 22 January 2005, reprinted in The Printer 18 (February 2005): 11.

Pitnik, Richard. "On Collecting Photography Books." Black & White Magazine 7(December 2005): 40-43.

Milroy, Rollin. "Transcendent Craftsmanship." Amphora No. 148(February 2008): 10-11.

Schechter, Fran. "Gallery Goods." Now, 1-7 May 2008.

Houpt, Simon. "A 21st Century Gutenberg." Globe and Mail, 17 May 2008.

Carter, Robert. "Toronto Notes." Photographic Canadiana 35(September, October 2009): 4.

Koppel, Niko. “Showcase: Channeling Caponigro." New York Times, 18 December, 2009. http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/showcase-94/

Adams, James. "The Future of Books: The Collectible Future." Globe and Mail, 2 July, 2010.

Adams, James. “A Work of Art About An Artist’s Work.” Globe and Mail, 14 December 2011.

Rhodes, Richard. “From Work Shed to Garage.” Canadian Art 28(Winter 2012): 144.

Reviews of Lumiere Press Titles

Aletti, Vince. "Lust for Life." The Village Voice, 20 February 2001.

Rice, Leland. "A Dialogue With Solitude." Black and White Magazine 12 (April 2001).

Aletti, Vince. “War and Peace: Soulful Photographs from the Front Lines.” The Village Voice, 18 February 2005.

Evans, David. "Lumiere Press." Parenthesis 11 (Autumn 2005): 41-43.

Evans, David. "An American Gallery." Parenthesis 17 (Autumn 2009): 49- 51.

Television

"Lumiere Press." Timeline Magazine. Fairchild Television. 2 March 2005. Arlene Tang, producer.

"Lumiere Press." Arts & Minds. Bravo! 9 April 2005. Christina Teixeira, producer.

Additional Photographs in Published Sources

Eliot, T.S. Preludes. Toronto: Lumiere Press, 1987, p. [7].

Urquart, Tony and Dault, Gary Michael. Cells of Ourselves. Erin, Ontario: The Porcupine's Quill, 1989, p. 95.

Mulhallen, Karen. Modern Love. Windsor: Black Moss Press, 1990. [back cover]

Coughtry, Graham. "Robert Markle." Canadian Art 7 (September 1990): 112.

Wagner, Wit. "Quarterly Reports." Toronto Star, 28 July 1990.

"Robert Markle." Art Post 39 8 (Winter 1990/91): 4.

John Meredith: A Retrospective. Toronto: Kaspar Gallery, 1991, p. [2].

Genereaux, Linda. "A Conversation with Avrom Isaacs." M5V Magazine 1 (1991): 45.

Brehmen Freedom: A Bourgeois Tragedy by Rainer Werner Fassbinder. Toronto: Graduate Centre for Study of Drama, University of Toronto, 1994, p. [3], [10], [13].

Canada Year Book 1994. Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 1993, p. 646.

Mulhallen, Karen, editor. Paper Guitar. Toronto: Harper Collins, 1995, p.[453].

Downey, Donn. "John Meredith: Intensity Highlighted Painter's Work." Globe and Mail, 16 September 2000.

Awards

2009
American Institute of Graphic Arts "50 Books of the Year"

2008
Premier Print Award, Printing Industries of America Certificate of Excellence (Art Books)
The Alcuin Society Citation (Limited Edition Book Design)

2007
The Alcuin Society Citation (Limited Edition Book Design)

2006
George Wittenborn Memorial Book Award, Excellence in Art Publishing for The Art of Frederick Sommer: Photography, Drawing, Collage

2005
The Alcuin Society Citation (First Prize, Limited Edition Book Design)

2004
The Alcuin Society Citation (First Prize, Limited Edition Book Design)

2002
The Alcuin Society Citation (Limited Edition Book Design)

1998
The Alcuin Society Citation (Limited Edition Book Design)

1995
The Alcuin Society Citation (Limited Edition Book Design)

1994
American Institute of Graphic Arts "50 Books of the Year"
The Alcuin Society Citation (First Prize, Limited Edition Book Design)

1990
American Institute of Graphic Arts Certificate of Excellence
The Alcuin Society Citation (Limited Edition Book Design)

1989
The Photo Review National Photography Competition (Award)

1988
The Photo Review National Photography Competition (Award)

1987
American Institute of Graphic Arts Certificate of Excellence

1986
American Institute of Graphic Arts Certificate of Excellence

Grants

2010
Ontario Arts Council (Book Arts)

2009
Chalmers Arts Fellowship
Canada Council (Book Arts)
Ontario Arts Council (Book Arts)

2008
Canada Council (Book Arts)
Ontario Arts Council (Book Arts)

2007
Ontario Arts Council (Book Arts)

2005
Ontario Arts Council (Book Arts)

2004
Ontario Arts Council (Book Arts)

2003
Ontario Arts Council (Book Arts)

2002
Ontario Arts Council (Book Arts)

2000
Canada Council (Book Arts)
Ontario Arts Council (Book Arts)

1997
Canada Council (Book Arts)

1996
Ontario Arts Council (Book Arts)

1994
Ontario Arts Council (Book Arts)

1993
Ontario Arts Council (Book Arts)

1990
Toronto Arts Council (Research/Development Awards to Writers)
Ontario Arts Council (Exhibition Assistance)

1989
Ontario Arts Council (Exhibition Assistance)

1986
Ontario Arts Council (Exhibition Assistance)

1985
Ontario Arts Council (Exhibition Assistance)

1982
Ontario Arts Council (Photography)

1981
Ontario Arts Council (Photography)

1979
Canada Council (Photography)

1976
Ontario Arts Council (Photography)

1975
Ontario Arts Council (Photography)

1974
Canada Council (Photography)

1973
Canada Council (Photography)
Ontario Arts Council (Photography)

Photographs in Public Collections

Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario

Art Gallery of Hamilton, Ontario

Canada Council Art Bank

Carleton University Art Gallery, Ottawa

Ryerson Image Centre, Toronto

Museum London, London, Ontario

Museum of Art, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon

National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa

National Library of Canada, Ottawa

National Photography Collection, National Archives, Ottawa

The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs, New York Public Library

The Portrait Gallery of Canada, Ottawa

University of Nevada, Reno

University of California, Los Angeles

Winnipeg Art Gallery

Bio

Born, Fort Erie, Ontario, 1952

Graduate, Photographic Arts, Ryerson Polytechnic Institute, Toronto, 1973

Curated, Michel Lambeth: Retrospective, National Film Board of Canada, 1979

Curated, Michel Lambeth: Photographer, Public Archives of Canada, 1986

Proprietor, Lumiere Press, established 1981

Represented by The Stephen Bulger Gallery, Toronto