15 July 2024 to 15 July 2026

World Press Photo takes over rue de la Commune Ouest and extends its presence in Montreal with the outdoor exhibition "Fragments d'histoire", featuring the work of photojournalist Antoine Desilets, the first Quebec recipient of a World Press Photo award in 1967.

Starting mid-July, Old Montreal will welcome a new visual journey paying tribute to one of Quebec’s great photography masters, Antoine Desilets. Presented at the corner of rue de la Commune Ouest and rue King, this free outdoor exhibition, titled "Fragments d'histoire", highlights iconic figures from Quebec captured with intimacy and spontaneity.

Among the featured portraits are Félix Leclerc, Dominique Michel, Denise Filiatrault, Gilles Vigneault, Lise Payette, the Richard brothers, Robert Charlebois, Gaston Miron, and Armand Vaillancourt, all immortalized in authentic, everyday moments, far from the polished studio setting.

This exhibition is the third and final chapter of the "Antoine en trois temps" an initiative by SDC Vieux-Montréal, made possible through the invaluable collaboration of Luc Desilets, the photographer’s son, and the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec.

The exhibition also pays tribute to the 70th anniversary of World Press Photo, as noted by Yann Fortier, curator and executive director of World Press Photo Montreal: “The 70th anniversary of World Press Photo is a perfect opportunity to honor the legacy of Antoine Desilets—both a witness and an active participant in some of the most defining decades of Québec’s history. The common thread in these images is their spontaneous, documentary approach, offering a glimpse of well-known personalities in natural, unposed settings.”

The exhibition panels are freely accessible along the waterfront and are a must-see on your next stroll through the historic district.

This photo exhibition is produced by SDC Vieux-Montréal, in collaboration with World Press Photo Montréal.

Photo credits: Sara Megan

For the complete schedule and program, visit the official event website.