Born in Montreal, Quebec, Barbeau studied there with Jean-Paul Riopelle at l’Ecole du Meuble and with Paul-Emile Borduas. They later shared a studio and became part of a group of students known as the Automatistes. While mainly a non-objective painter using acrylics and watercolour, drawing and collage were his main interest until 1961. Barbeau lived and worked in Paris from 1962-64 and then in New York from 1964-68, during which time he researched Op Art and film techniques. He returned to Paris in 1971 where he worked on painting and sculpture. Barbeau has done extensive teaching throughout his career and became artist-in-residence at Bishop’s University, Lennoxville, Quebec (1977-79). He moved to Paris in the 1990’s and now spends his time working in both Montreal and Paris. He adopted several styles including gestural painting, abstraction, collage Op Art and Hard Edge. He showed with the MMFA from 1945-65 and the RCA in 1964 and 1976. He is represented in the NGC, MMFA, MQ, AGO, MAC, NGW and the VAG.