Campeau is a Montreal photographer and one of the founders of Groupe d’action photographique (GAP). The collective was formed in 1971 by Campeau, Serge Laurin (1942–2017), and Roger Charbonneau (b.1947) to document Quebec society through intimate representations of community. Campeau’s work explores questions related to the history and practice of photography, particularly in relation to autobiography and family, often using the book form. With GAP, Campeau participated in the documentary project that captured rural community life in Quebec, Disraeli: une expérience humaine en photographie (1972). Campeau has published numerous photographic books, including Les tremblements du coeur (1988) and Éclipses et labyrinthes, 1988–1993 (1993).

Image: Michel Campeau, Fête religieuse portugaise, Montréal, Québec, from the series Week-end au Paradis Terrestre!, 1980, silver gelatin print, 40.4 x 50.5 cm. © Michel Campeau / CARCC Ottawa 2023.

For further reading, see:

Campeau, Michel. Michel Campeau : éclipses et labyrinthes. S.l.: s.n., 1991.

Campeau, Michel, and Richard Baillargeon. Les tremblements du coeur. Quebec City and Montreal: VU & Éditions Saint-Martin, 1988.

Dessureault, Pierre. “Images of Montreal: Some Notable Projects on Montreal Neighbourhoods.” Ciel Variable 105 (Winter 2017). cielvariable.ca/en/issues/ciel-variable-105-montrealities/.

———. Michel Campeau : les images volubiles travaux photographiques, 1971–1996 / Eloquent Images Photographic Works, 1971–1996. Ottawa: Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, 1996.

Jongue, Serge. “The New Photographic Order,” 33–50. In 13 Essays on Photography, edited by Geoffrey James. Ottawa: Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, 1988.

Langford, Martha. “Faith, Hope and Verity: Michel Campeau’s Photography and Realism.” Border Crossings 32, no. 4 (2013): 50–59.

Szilasi, Doreen Lindsay. Disraeli : une expérience humaine en photographie. Quebec City: Les publications de l’Imagerie populaire, 1974.