The Art of Yousuf Karsh
Upcoming Event
Monday, April 13, 2026 , 5:00 p.m.
Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St., Toronto
Bram & Bluma Appel Salon – Novella Room
About
No artist in Canada is more celebrated for making portraits than Yousuf Karsh
(1908–2002). In his hands, the camera could reveal a person’s true self in a single
frame. Like his work, Karsh is legendary—known simply by his surname. This
talk will explore how, after fleeing the Armenian Genocide in 1924, he arrived
in Canada as a refugee before building a remarkable career based in Ottawa, his
city of choice and adopted home. It will address Karsh’s 1941 breakthrough with
his electrifying portrait of Winston Churchill, an image that catapulted him
onto the world
stage. And it will reveal how, over the next six decades, Karsh
mastered the art of portraiture, creating a unique chronicle of his
time through images of leaders, artists,
and cultural icons.
Featuring
Melissa Rombout
Author of Yousuf Karsh: Life & Work
Sara Angel
Founder and Executive Director of the Art Canada Institute
Sponsors
season sponsor 2025–2026 publications
title sponsor
Tim and Frances Price
gold sponsor
David Binet
bronze sponsor
Jason Donville
print sponsor
The Karsh Center at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Explore
More Past
Events
Wednesday, September 18, 5:00 p.m. Royal Conservatory of Music, Temerty Theatre, 273 Bloor Street West
September 29, 2025
93 Charles St. W., Toronto
Wednesday, September 18, 5:00 p.m. Royal Conservatory of Music, Temerty Theatre, 273 Bloor Street West
April 30, 2025
93 Charles St. W., Toronto
April 13, 2025
Baillie Court, 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto
May 8, 2024
5440 Spring Garden Road, Halifax
April 25, 2023
15 Devonshire Place, Toronto
November 28, 2022
June 7, 2022
273 Bloor St. W., Toronto
May 4, 2022
March 30, 2022
February 23, 2022
November 11, 2021
October 19, 2021
October 5, 2021
November 11, 2019
93 Charles St. W., Toronto
April 30, 2019
231 Queens Quay West, Toronto
April 1, 2019
93 Charles St. W., Toronto
November 12, 2018
93 Charles St. W., Toronto
October 24, 2018
50 Mackenzie King Bridge, Ottawa
April 16, 2018
93 Charles St. W., Toronto
November 6, 2017
93 Charles St. W., Toronto
May 16, 2017
15 Devonshire Place, Toronto
February 23, 2017
4th Floor, 1011 — 9th Avenue S.E., Calgary, Alberta
November 27, 2016
421 Ridout St. N., London, ON
November 10, 2016
380 Sussex Drive, Ottawa
October 24, 2016
15 Devonshire Place, Toronto