Marcel Barbeau was born in Montreal in 1925. He painted and sculpted for more than seventy years with remarkable fervor and passion. He is known for his impressive body of works: paintings, sculptures, drawings, collages and prints.
Above all a free man, he remained faithful to the automatist spirit. He was one of the signatories of the Refus Global of 1948.
The artist’s record demonstrates remarkable dynamism and insight. Constantly looking for new ways to manipulate form and light, the evolution of his work is unique and sets him apart from the painters of his generation.
Marcel Barbeau has received numerous recognitions, including: the Governor General’s Award for Visual and Media Arts, the Borduas Award and the Louis-Philippe Hébert Award.
He died in Montreal on January 2, 2016.