Piece at the Hyperrealism exhibit at MNBAQ.
Piece at the Hyperrealism exhibit at MNBAQ.
Piece at the Hyperrealism exhibit at MNBAQ.
Piece at the Hyperrealism exhibition at MNBAQ.
Jamie Salmon, Lily, 2013. Silicone, pigment, fiberglass, acrylic and hair, 70 × 44.5 × 40.5 cm. Collection of the artist and Anthony Brunelli Beaux-arts © Jamie Salmon // Photo : MNBAQ, David Cannon
Karine Payette, De part et d'autre, 2016. Silicone, pigment, polystyrene, fur, 57 × 129.6 × 63.5 cm. Courtesy of Galerie Art Mûr, Montréal © Karine Payette // Photo : Michael Patten
Sam Jinks, Woman and Child, 2010. Silicone, silk, human hair, acrylic, nylon, polyurethane foam, wood, edition of 3, 145 × 40 × 40 cm. Collection of the artist © Sam Jinks // Photo : MNBAQ, David Cannon
Tony Matelli, Josh, 2010. Silicone, steel, hair, urethane and clothing, 77 × 183 × 56 cm, edition of 3. Collection of the artist © Tony Matelli // Photo : MNBAQ, David Cannon

The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec: fascinating, intriguing and surprising

Published on May 18, 2026 Featured Events

The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec invites you to experience "Hyperrealism. This Is Not a Body", a Canadian premiere. Over 40 sculptures by 35 artists from Québec and beyond transform the human body into a captivating field of exploration. Duane Hanson, Ron Mueck, Patricia Piccinini, and many Québécois artists bring figures to life with astonishing detail and texture, skillfully blurring the line between illusion and reality.

The Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec: fascinating, intriguing and surprising
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Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec

Step into Emotion and Everyday Life

Each work offers an intimate encounter with human fragility. Life-size sculptures immerse you in everyday scenes or poignant moments, while others manipulate scale and fragments to challenge your perception. Observing these works, you explore universal themes: childhood, aging, solitude, self-awareness, relationships, and the passage of time. The Museum’s clean, light-filled design transforms your visit into an immersive experience where every detail comes alive and sparks wonder.

Piece at the Hyperrealism exhibition at MNBAQ.
Piece at the Hyperrealism exhibit at MNBAQ.
Tony Matelli, Josh, 2010. Silicone, steel, hair, urethane and clothing, 77 × 183 × 56 cm, edition of 3. Collection of the artist © Tony Matelli // Photo : MNBAQ, David Cannon
Sam Jinks, Woman and Child, 2010. Silicone, silk, human hair, acrylic, nylon, polyurethane foam, wood, edition of 3, 145 × 40 × 40 cm. Collection of the artist © Sam Jinks // Photo : MNBAQ, David Cannon

Live a Unique Experience

The exhibition can be explored at your own pace and offers multiple ways to interact with the works: guided tours, audioguides, workshops for all ages, and a timeline tracing the human figure in art from Antiquity to today. With Hyperrealism. This Is Not a Body you are invited simply to live the experience on site, in your own way, by taking the time to be surprised by what your gaze cannot entirely see coming.

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"Hyperrealism. This Is Not a Body" exhibit

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Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec

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