PhD Candidate Marina Klimenko (Department of English) has won the 2026 Story & Image Competition organized by the University of Toronto School of Cities. Her winning entry, Blue Again—a short story accompanied by an original painting—was selected by a three-member judging panel as truly exceptional.
The annual competition invites participants to respond creatively to urban life through both written and visual work. Marina’s submission stood out for the strength of both its narrative and artistic components, demonstrating a thoughtful engagement with the relationships and experiences that city life makes possible.
Marina Klimenko is a PhD Candidate in the Department of English, a writer of literary short fiction, and a mixed media artist. She enjoys writing (and reading) stories that explore the relationships that city life enables and currently resides in Toronto.
Marina’s work was first published as part of the School of Cities’ 2026 Story & Image Competition and will be featured at the School of Cities Community Showcase on March 25.