Meet the Team: Philip Gurrey, Administrator, Programs and Learning

Meet Philip Gurrey

Philip Gurrey is a graduate of the Glasgow School of Art (BA(Hons) M.Litt.) and holds a Ph.D. in Art and Visual Culture from Western University. He has worked in the private and public art sectors over the years and as an artist has exhibited throughout the UK, in France, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Canada and the US.

Philip has taught art in a number of different capacities and is passionate about the role art plays in the health and wellbeing of our society.

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Ask Me Anything - with Philip Gurrey

Do you have any skills or talents that most people don’t know about?

I am a keen trumpet player and have been playing since the age of 9. I’ve played in Jazz big bands since the age of 12 performing from a young age in summer festivals in Italy, Holland, Austria and Belgium.

Name some favourite films/albums/work of arts/pieces of literature:

I remember being introduced to ‘The Outsider’ by Albert Camus when I was a teenager and that novel had, and still has, a fantastic aura about it. I keep returning to the work of Theodor Adorno but he can be a difficult read at the best of times! I love the music of Miles Davis, Christian Scott, John Coltrane, Brad Mehldau and Charlie Hunter to name a few. John Scofield’s album ‘Works For Me’ is up there as one of the greatest albums of all time for me.  

What are you happiest doing, when you’re not working?

Being guided by what my children want to do is always a joy. Seeing the world through their eyes is always enlightening. I love playing football (soccer) it’s a great way to meet people and keep fit.

What are some causes you care about?

I’m really interested in the relationship between the human and the nonhuman and with that climate change, plastic pollution, air pollution and our everchanging relationship to the planet we inhabit.