The 2026 Prix La Caisse en art actuel awarded to Geneviève Matthieu

Geneviève Matthieu won the 2026 Prix La Caisse en art actuel, a $25,000 prize that recognizes the contributions of mid-career Québec artists and supports the continuation of their artistic practice.

Geneviève Matthieu is an artist duo—Geneviève Crépeau and Matthieu Dumont—formed in Rouyn-Noranda in the late 1990s, whose multidisciplinary practice combines performance, installation, video, music and poetry. Through collective performances and staged depictions of social scenes inspired by art and life, the duo has developed a unique body of work that is at once playful, sensitive and deeply rooted in human relationships.

Their work has been exhibited in Canada, Europe and Japan, and has been featured in numerous museums and festivals, in addition to receiving recognition through various prestigious art awards. Following the death of Matthieu Dumont in February 2025, Geneviève Crépeau has continued to carry on their body of work on her own while retaining the collective’s name, which has become her artist name. The Prix La Caisse en art actuel is timely, as she is preparing to begin a residency at Usine C, where her work Danseprophétiqueàl'îlebizarre will be presented from September 10 to 12, 2026, followed by a tour in Marseille (actoral), Paris (Le Générateur), and Brussels (Maison Poème) in fall 2026.

For Geneviève Crépeau, this recognition represents concrete support for continuing her efforts. “The Prix La Caisse en art actuel is truly a wonderful surprise that has come at an important time in my life. I’m deeply touched by this recognition, because it highlights the importance of interdisciplinary art and the work that Matthieu and I have accomplished together. “This support will give me the freedom and momentum I need to continue on my path and develop my creative work,” she said.

“The jury’s selection of Geneviève Matthieu highlights a powerful and deeply unique artistic practice that places performance—a discipline that is still rarely recognized—at its centre. It also emphasizes the importance of paying attention to working artists across Québec, including outside the major urban centres. By providing this support, the Prix helps highlight the richness and diversity of contemporary art more broadly,” said Marie-Justine Snider, Curator of La Caisse's Art Collection.

The recipient was selected by a jury of experts from the cultural community, consisting of Bernard Lamarche, contemporary art curator (1960–present) at the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec, Mark Lanctôt, curator in charge of the collection at the Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, and Anne-Marie St-Jean Aubre, Gail and Stephen A. Jarislowsky Curator of Quebec and Canadian Contemporary Art at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

This award recognizes a unique artistic vision that has spent many years exploring the boundaries between art, performance, objects, and the spoken word. The jury highlighted the boldness, generosity, and sensitivity that characterize Geneviève Matthieu’s career, as well as the lasting influence of their work on the Québec art scene. Their work helps renew the connections between artistic creation, the region, and sensory experience, while showcasing the cultural vitality of Abitibi-Témiscamingue and its commitment to Québec’s contemporary art scene.

La Caisse Supports Mid-career Artists

Launched in 2025 to address the lack of support for mid-career artists in Quebec, the Prix La Caisse en art actuel is awarded annually to an established Québec artist, thereby helping them continue creating art and showcasing their work. This initiative by La Caisse demonstrates its ongoing commitment to Québec’s cultural ecosystem and the development of contemporary art.

La Caisse firmly believes that culture plays an essential role in Québec’s social, economic, and regional development and remains committed to supporting artists and promoting Québec’s artistic heritage to the public, including through its art collection and its public art initiatives, including those of the REM art program.