TMU student photobooks capture a generation of photographers
For most students, a class project ends when the semester does.
But for some TMU photography students, their work becomes part of the university’s permanent record — preserving not only their artistic and creative development, but also a snapshot of the issues, experiences and ideas shaping a generation of emerging artists.
A collection a decade in the making
Since 2015, TMU Libraries has teamed up with the Image Arts program and the Photographic Historical Society of Canada, as donor partner, to build a unique collection of student photobooks.
The work comes from MPS507 – The Photographic Book, a third-year course in which students conceive, design and produce original photobooks using their own photography.
Each January, the books are displayed in an exhibition at Artspace TMU. A panel of professors, artists and industry professionals then selects five or six standout works, which are purchased from the students and added to TMU Libraries Special Collections.
The initiative gives students the chance to have their work recognized, exhibited and – for the award winners, whose work is selected for the collection– preserved in a growing archive available to the TMU community and the public.
“The award provides incentive for students to achieve early recognition that will have a lasting legacy in a collection,” said Alison Skyrme, special collections librarian and The Creative School liaison librarian at TMU Libraries.
This year’s photobook winners include Jerry Zhang for “A Beginners Guide to Swimming and Diving”, Dalila Oliveira for “Mapa do Inicio”, Ethan Barruch for “The Classifieds”, Carter Henry for “Urban Landscape”, Gorden Nyenhuis for “A General Feeling of Being Unwell” and Evva Sofia Pereria Liapis “Still-ness”.
Each year, the photobooks of third year Image Arts students are showcased at Artspace TMU. (Photo: Mina Markovic).
More than a showcase
The collection began as a collaboration between TMU Libraries and Image Arts instructors and has continued to grow – with the Photographic Historical Society of Canada as a donor partner.
For Skyrme, the collection's value goes beyond recognizing outstanding student work.
“In terms of a collection, it’s really important to have a record of the creative learning that happens at the university,” she said.
Over time, the books have documented not only individual artistic growth, but also social, cultural and personal issues that resonate with young artists.
"The collection captures what young people are making art about. You can see trends changing over time — responses to politics, climate issues, technology and social issues. It’s all there in microcosm."
The books vary widely in style, format and subject matter. Past award-winning projects have explored navigating serious illness, caring for aging parents, the immigrant experience, loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic and environmental concerns. One project documented a parent's experience supporting a critically ill child; another chronicled a student's own journey through the health care system.
The cover of the photobook, You, The Light & Nothing Else by Christina Oyawale, 2021 award winner.
Unlike gallery exhibitions, which are temporary by nature, photobooks offer a more personal and lasting experience for viewers.
“Photobooks give students space to explore an idea in depth,” said Skyrme. “They can combine images and text, tell a story and really dig into a topic in a way that's different from an exhibition.”
“It’s a tangible, accessible format,” she continued. “A photobook allows someone to spend time with the work and engage with it at their own pace.”
An early career boost
This year, roughly 40 student photobooks were entered into the exhibition. Judges evaluated the works based on design, sequencing and the integration of images and text.
The 2025 panel included fourth-year student and former photobook award recipient Aidan Clark, graphic designer Lee Chapman and professor Michèle Pearson Clarke.
For selected students, inclusion in the collection can support portfolios, graduate school applications and add a meaningful credential to a CV.
The exhibition itself is also a milestone.
“Students are incredibly excited to see their work displayed,” said Skyrme. “There’s a real sense of community and support from fellow artists, faculty, friends and family.”
The cover of the photobook, Calm and Chaos by Kay Nadjiwon, 2022 award winner.
Today, the photobooks sit alongside other photography archives and special collections at TMU Libraries. In the future, the winning books will be housed in Special Collections, where they will continue to inspire future generations of photography students.
“Each year, I’m struck by the level of talent that our students show,” said Skyrme. “This collection provides a record of what these young artists are capable of, and represents the early work of many photographers who go on to have very successful careers.”
