The Life and Art of Mashel Teitelbaum

Guest speaker: Andrew Kear, Head of Programs at Museum London

One of Canada’s most talented and influential artistic outsiders, and the son of Jewish immigrants, Mashel Teitelbaum grew up during the Great Depression, World War II, and the Holocaust, before honing his voice under the likes of Clyfford Still, Ad Reinhardt, and Max Beckmann. Teitelbaum created a body of work that remains arresting to this day. From landscapes to portraits, expressionistic abstraction to conceptual installations, his art was characterized by self-expression and a desire to speak truth to power, often placing him in conflict with the establishment. Following Andrew’s illustrated presentation, there will be book sales and signings by Ben McNally Books.

Presented in partnership with Toronto Public Library as part of its Jewish Heritage Series, and the Canadian Jewish Literary Awards.

Join us in the Al Green Theatre, on Zoom simulcast, or register to receive the recording!

Thursday May 14
1:00-2:30pm
Al Green Theatre

FREE – registration required.

For registration assistance, please call 416-924-6211 x0 or email help@mnjcc.org.
For more information, contact Lisa Roy at 416-924-6211 x6155 or email lisar@mnjcc.org.

Andrew Kear is Head of Programs at Museum London. He was formerly Chief Curator and Curator of Canadian Art at the Winnipeg Art Gallery and has written and curated exhibitions on a wide range of contemporary and historical Canadian artists, including Karl Funk, L.L. FitzGerald, and William Kurelek. Kear holds a BFA from the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and master’s degrees in Canadian art history and philosophy from Carleton University and the University of Toronto. Andrew won the 2025 Canadian Jewish Literary Award in Jewish Culture for Mashel Teitelbaum: Terror and Beauty, and we are very pleased to welcome him back to the Miles Nadal JCC this spring!

To purchase a copy of Mashel Teitelbaum: Terror and Beauty, please visit Ben McNally Books

Toronto Public Library Jewish Heritage Series
Discover Jewish arts, culture and history with events, programs and featured collections throughout Jewish Heritage Month this May. And join us year-round for programs, collections and activities that highlight and celebrate the contributions of Jewish writers, artists and other members of the Jewish community. For more information, visit the Toronto Public Library.

Celebrating its eleventh year, the Canadian Jewish Literary Awards recognizes the finest books with Jewish themes and subjects by Canadian authors in a variety of genres. It enriches and promotes Canadian Jewish writing and culture, enabling us to better understand our collective past, our shared present, and the world of the future. The Canadian Jewish Literary Awards does more than reward winning authors with a cash prize and a moment in the spotlight. It builds pride, not only in the individuals being honoured, but in the creative achievements that reflect Jewish themes and ideas. The Canadian Jewish Literary Awards, including the Irving Abella Award in History, are judged by an independent jury, who select winners in categories including Fiction, Jewish Culture, Biography/Memoir,  Holocaust, Poetry, Yiddish, and Children/Youth. For more information, please visit www.cjlawards.ca.