RichardMartel
Biography
Richard Martel, (1950, Québec,Canada) is a Canadian artist whose work spans performance, installation, video, curating, and writing. Known for his deep involvement in the evolution of performance art, Martel has been a central figure in Québec’s contemporary art scene since the late 1970s. He co-founded Éditions Intervention, the publishing house responsible for the art magazine Inter, which was launched in 1978 and remains a key platform for contemporary art discourse. In 1982, Martel helped establish Le Lieu, a center for contemporary art in Québec City that continues to support experimental practices. Two years later, he initiated the Rencontre Internationale d’Art Performance de Québec (RIAP), an international event that has since brought performance artists from around the world to Québec. Over the course of his career, Martel has presented more than 200 performance works in over 40 countries. His practice often merges media—particularly performance, video, and installation—to investigate themes like identity, communication, and power. Notable among his later works is La Conquête (2008), a multimedia installation incorporating sculpture and video to reflect on colonial and cultural narratives. Beyond his artistic practice, Martel has played a crucial role in shaping the theoretical framework of performance art. His book Art Action 1958–1998 is a widely referenced chronicle of four decades of performance history and highlights the development of the medium within international contexts. Richard Martel continues to be a driving force in performance and interdisciplinary art, both as a creator and as a facilitator of dialogue and exchange within the global art community.
