Phil Bergerson
“Phil Bergerson set the tone for both students and young artists in Toronto’s photography scene during the 70’s and 80’s. As his student, and later as a young and struggling artist, I benefitted immeasurably from the rich learning environment he established for us at Ryerson. Phil nurtured an expansive perspective about looking at art and making art. The international array of photographers, curators, and critics he brought to Toronto helped me and my peers broaden our horizons and move past our provincial views about the art world. This influence made itself apparent in my burgeoning art practice, and it was this exposure that encouraged me to consider the possibility of succeeding as an artist. Meanwhile, the inclusive sense that Phil fostered through his 1979 Canadian Perspectives conference created a national cultural awareness that gave us all an understanding of the wide-ranging Canadian art community that we should and could engage with.”
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“Phil was able to accomplish all of this while still being a role model. Throughout, he remained dedicated to his own art practice, generating his own intriguing photographs and book projects. His lead encouraged us all to press on with our own careers in a similarly energetic manner. Phil’s teaching style, a deep understanding of art history and all forms of art, was delivered with intelligence, wit, and humour. He was a great inspiration for all who were fortunate enough to work with him.”
Edward Burtynsky, Photographer
"What On Earth Are You Doing?"
Gallery X — Phil Bergerson Exhibition Opening
For the past thirty years, Bergerson has traveled North America extensively, searching for remnants of a recent yet bygone era, capturing them in tightly composed photographs that harness his mastery of colour, light, and an engaging sense of humour. Although many photographers have pointed a chastising eye at the detritus that populate the urban landscape, Bergerson’s wonderment with what he frames permeates scenes of desolation, neglect, and a sense of human striving.
Phil Bergerson has been photographing and exhibiting internationally for over thirty-five years. His work can be found in significant public and private collections, including the National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; the Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris; and the Harry Ransom Center, Texas. He has been awarded several Canada Council and Ontario Arts Council grants, and his photographs have been published in The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine as well as in Toronto Life and The Walrus.
Bergerson taught photography at Ryerson University from 1975 until his retirement in 2005. There he received many awards including the Sahota Award for excellence in teaching and creative research. His influential organizational achievements include the establishment of the annual international “Kodak Lecture Series”, a National Conference on Photography in Canada, (“Canadian Perspectives”), and the first International Symposium on Photographic Theory.
