Art historians help us see our world and ourselves in broader perspective.
Why Art History Matters Now
The field of art history is always evolving, but at its core is a sense of wonder at works of human creativity that speak to us across time. We’re sometimes told that art history, and perhaps the humanities in general, are outdated. On the contrary: at a time when images have unprecedented power to shape public consciousness, as societies negotiate questions of cultural inheritance and civilizational memory, and as new ways of visualising knowledge propel scientific advances, art historians help us see our world and ourselves in broader perspective.
Humanistic Foundations
Since our founding in 1934 as Canada’s first art history department, our work has been guided by a passionate belief in art history as a humanistic enterprise. Today, as one of North America’s largest art history programs, we interpret this mission broadly. Our award-winning faculty and students share a love of art and architecture even as we interrogate it vigorously, through the widest array of methods and frameworks. We hold ourselves to high standards and embrace a pluralistic spirit of critical investigation and debate.
A Cosmopolitan Outlook
Toronto is consistently ranked as one of the most vibrant and globally connected cities. Our curriculum reflects our cosmopolitan perspective, encompassing the historically contextualized study of art from the Western tradition and around the world, including the Indigenous societies of North America. Located in a Commonwealth country bordering the U.S. and with longstanding ties to Europe, our department participates in numerous scholarly conversations, unbound by any single tradition or trend. Our seminars at the Royal Ontario Museum, internship placements at leading galleries and auction houses, and our University of Toronto–France Art History Partnership—annually immersing dozens of students in French collections—offer numerous opportunities to engage with art directly.
Come Think with Us
I’m honoured to lead this community of scholars during a time of change in how we learn and conduct research. As we navigate these shifts, I hold to the convictions that culture is universal and worth studying for its own sake, and that students should engage with challenging and even disturbing artworks and ideas.
The Department seeks to attract bright, ambitious scholars regardless of background. Art history has so much to contribute to the great debates of our time. If you share our spirit of curiosity and our high academic standards, I invite you to join us.
Joseph L. Clarke
Associate Professor, Modern Architectural History
Chair, Department of Art History
Located in a Commonwealth country bordering the U.S. and with longstanding ties to Europe, our department participates in numerous scholarly conversations, unbound by any single tradition or trend.