Noah CôtéThe 13 best art exhibitions in Montreal that’ll blow your mind (or at least make you think)
Back in high school, we went on a field trip to check out a bunch of art exhibitions at a museum. Even though we were technically all in the same building, every new exhibit felt like stepping into a different world. That day seriously changed how I saw art.
I started to realise just how much heart and effort artists pour into their work. It’s like they stripped themselves off for the world to see—putting their thoughts, emotions, bare with vulnerability for total strangers to interpret.
Since then, I’ve been hooked. I love wandering through exhibits and getting lost in what each artist is trying to say.
So, if you’re into that kind of thing too, or curious to give it a try, I’ve got you. Montreal has some amazing exhibits happening for the next few months. Here are my top picks that I think are totally worth checking out.
- Best art exhibitions at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA)
- Best art exhibition at the Pointe-à-Callière in Montréal Archaeology and History Complex
- Best art exhibitions at the PHI
- Art exhibition at the OASIS immersion
- Art exhibition at the Musée d'Art Contemporain (MAC)
- Best art exhibitions at the McCord Stewart Museum
- Best art exhibition at the Canadian Centre of Architecture (CCA)
Best art exhibitions at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA)
Address: 1380 Sherbrooke St W
Contact details: +1 514-285-2000
Operating hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 10 AM – 5 PM
- Wednesday: 10 AM – 9 PM
- Thursday to Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM
1. Bad Girls Only: Women and the Seven Deadly Sins
Media credits: historyonholiday
Price: $$
Date: Until August 10, 2025
Bad Girls Only looks at how women have been historically linked with the Seven Deadly Sins (like pride, envy, and lust) through art over the years. I had no idea that artists used to draw these sins as women to make moral “warnings” more powerful.
It’s thought-provoking that the female body is being twisted into whatever message the artist wants to send.
One piece that really stuck with me was envy shown as this creepy woman with snakes coming out of her head, eating a human heart. It’s dramatic, intense, and exactly the kind of thing that keeps you staring for a few minutes, just taking it all in.
| Pro tip: Buy tickets online in advance so you can save time and avoid waiting in line. Sometimes, online purchases may also offer a small discount on admission. |
2. Worlds of Wonder: The Surrealist Journey of Alan Glass
Media credits: gallerieswest
Price: $$
Date: Until September 28, 2025
It was easy to be completely drawn in by the dreamlike atmosphere of the entire Worlds of Wonder show. Even if you’re not super familiar with Surrealism or Alan Glass’ work, it’s still a visually rich and fascinating way to spend an afternoon.
The exhibition is full of strange and dreamy art. There are over 100 pieces, including detailed drawings and little boxes filled with everyday objects that have been turned into weird and wonderful scenes.
Even if you don’t usually go to art shows, it’s really fun to explore since it’s like stepping into someone’s imagination.
| Pro tip: Watch a surrealist film after the exhibition if you’re in the mood to keep the dreamlike feeling going. The curators recommend movies like “Mulholland Drive” or “Spellbound” to continue the surreal vibes at home. |
3. Berthe Weill, Art Dealer of the Parisian Avant-garde
Media credits: newcriterion
Price: $$
Date: Until September 7, 2025
This exhibition is all about Berthe Weill, a woman who was one of the first people to support big artists like Picasso and Matisse long before they were famous.
The space is really well laid out, and it’s easy to follow. I liked how they used a circular layout, which kind of made it feel like you were walking through her life story. There’s also a timeline you can revisit at the end, which helped put everything into perspective.
One of my favourite parts was seeing the work of the women artists she supported. I honestly hadn’t heard much of many of them before, and that made me realise how much talent has been overlooked just because of gender.
| Pro tip: Don’t skip the wall texts. They’re short, but they explain a lot about the art and the stories behind it. These make everything more interesting and easier to understand. |
4. Marie Claire Blais: Streaming of Light
Media credits: marieclaireblais
Price: $$
Date: Until January 4, 2026
The main part of the Streaming of Light exhibition is a big hanging artwork made of painted fabric. Imagine walking into a room where these huge, softly painted burlap panels are suspended in the air like an abstract wave.
I loved how the colours shift as I moved around, like catching a sunrise from different angles. The subtle sound piece that plays in the space also added to the vibe. It’s based on the artist’s brushstrokes and has this rhythm that makes the entire exhibit feel alive.
The surrounding paintings are just as intriguing. They’re creased in unexpected ways, so depending on where you stand, the shadows and highlights change.
| Pro tip: Bring a notebook or sketchbook. It’s a great spot to write or draw since the calm vibe is perfect for getting your thoughts down. |
Best art exhibition at the Pointe-à-Callière in Montréal Archaeology and History Complex
Address: 350 Place Royale
Contact details: +1 514-872-9150
Operating hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday to Friday: 10 AM – 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 11 AM – 5 PM
5. Knights
Media credits: senechs86
Price: $$
Date: Until October 19, 2025
The Knights exhibition is all about knights and medieval life. It has nearly 250 pieces of real armour and weapons from Europe, all loaned from a museum in Florence, Italy.
You can learn how knights trained, what they wore, and how they lived–not just on the battlefield but in everyday life too. It’s actually great for both adults and kids.
One of the best parts for me is the interactive section. You can try on pieces of armour, hold a sword, and take part in little challenges that feel like mini medieval tournaments. It really helps bring history to life and makes it feel less like a typical museum visit.
| Pro tip: There’s a rare copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” from the early 1600s tucked into the exhibit. It’s easy to miss, but it’s worth checking out if you’re already there. |
Best art exhibitions at the PHI
Contact details: +1 514-225-0525
Operating hours:
- Monday to Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday to Friday: 12 PM – 7 PM
- Saturday to Sunday: 11 AM – 6 PM
6. Bingo
Media credits: akimboart
Address: 451 Rue Saint-Jean St
Price: $$
Date: Until September 14, 2025
The Bingo exhibition is the first museum-scale solo presentation of Nico Williams, so it’s actually very special. It’s all about beadwork, but not the kind you might expect.
These are colourful, detailed sculptures made with tiny beads. They tell powerful stories about Indigenous life, history, and identity.
What’s cool is how the exhibition connects serious topics like land, trade, and colonial history with something playful, like bingo. It’s meaningful but also fun and easy to enjoy, even if you’re not big into art.
| Pro tip: Go on a Wednesday or Saturday since that’s when they offer free guided tours. This will help you understand the meaning behind the beadwork. They’re in both French and English, but only 10 people per group, so book as early as possible. |
7. Lap-See Lam: Shadow Play
Media credits: direphi
Address: 465 Rue Saint-Jean St
Price: $$
Date: Until September 14, 2025
Lap-See Lam: Shadow Play pulls you into a dreamy world of glowing scrims, whispering shadows, and mythical characters drawn from Cantonese opera and folklore.
The main focus is a real-life dragon-shaped boat that used to be a restaurant, then a haunted house, and now it’s part of this mysterious art story. You’ll meet twin sisters, fish-people, and ghost-like characters that make you feel like you’re inside a fairytale.
The story is fascinating, and it unfolds through two video installations that are both filled with magical realism and cultural reflection.
I personally found some of the sound effects and strobe lights intense, but they do offer earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones, which is a nice touch.
| Pro tip: Go during off-peak hours. Late afternoon or early evening, especially on midweek, tends to be quieter. This way, you can enjoy the exhibit with fewer people around. |
8. Jean-Marc Vallée: Mixtape
Media credits: direphi
Address: 407 Saint-Pierre Street
Operating hours:
- Monday to Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday to Sunday: 11 AM – 6 PM
Price: Free
Date: Until July 6, 2025
Mixtape is about Jean-Marc Vallée, who is a Quebec filmmaker behind movies like “Wild,” “C.R.A.Z.Y.,” and “Demolition.” It’s a cool and immersive experience with music, film clips, and stories from people who knew him.
He used music in a really special way when making his films, and the whole exhibition is built around that idea. It’s like walking through one of his personal mixtapes.
There are five rooms, each filled with sound and visuals. You can listen to his friends and family talk about him. It gives you a real feel for who he was as a person and artist.
| Pro tip: Watch some of his films beforehand. If you’ve seen “Wild,” “C.R.A.Z.Y.,” and “Demolition,” you’ll recognise moments in the exhibition and connect more deeply with it. |
Art exhibition at the OASIS immersion
Address: 301 Rue Saint-Antoine O
Contact details: +1 438-813-7878
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: Closed
- Friday: 12 PM – 10 PM
- Saturday: 10 AM – 10 PM
- Sunday: 10 AM – 9 PM
9. Root for Nature
Media credits: oasisimmersion
Price: $$
Extended until August 31
Root for Nature is like stepping into a giant nature show, with beautiful lights, sounds, and huge moving images all around you. The whole experience takes about 90 minutes, and it’s split into different sections.
You’ll see amazing photos from National Geographic, cool digital art that moves and changes, and a short film that shows how people can save the planet. It’s not boring or sad, though. It actually left me feeling hopeful and inspired.
At the end, there’s a fun interactive part called the “Regeneration Lounge” where you can help bring coral reefs back to life on a big screen. It’s a creative and fun way to wrap things up.
| Pro tip: Don’t wear bright white clothing during your visit. Some of the projection effects show up better when you’re not reflecting too much light. Neutral or darker clothing helps you blend in and enjoy the full immersive visuals. |
Art exhibition at the Musée d’Art Contemporain (MAC)
Address: Niveau Galerie, Pl. Ville-Marie Local 11220
Contact details: +1 514-847-6226
Operating hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday to Friday: 11:30 AM – 7 PM
- Saturday: 11 AM – 6 PM
- Sunday: 11 AM – 5:30 PM
10. Skyscrapers by the Roots: Reflections on Late Modernism
Media credits: dfariagallery
Price: $
Date: Until August 10, 2025
Skyscrapers by the Roots mixes art from the 1960s and 1970s with more recent work by today’s artists. It looks at how modernist ideas still affect our lives today.
It gets you thinking about how cities are designed, who they’re built for, and how these spaces affect identity and community. Some of the pieces are really creative and offer fresh ways of looking at urban life.
One of the coolest parts for me was a film installation by David Hartt called “Horizon.” It takes you on a trippy journey through futuristic cityscapes and old-school interiors. There’s also a big mural that feels like something out of a comic book.
| Pro tip: Bring a friend who’s into design or cities. This isn’t just for art lovers. It’s a great conversation starter if you’re into architecture, city life, or how people interact with public space. |
Best art exhibitions at the McCord Stewart Museum
Address: 690 Sherbrooke St W
Contact details: +1 514-861-6701
Operating hours:
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 10 AM – 5 PM
- Wednesday: 10 AM – 9 PM
- Thursday to Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM
11. Little Burgundy – Evolving Montreal
Media credits: neverwasaverage
Price: $$
Date: Until September 28, 2025
Little Burgundy – Evolving Montreal is a photography exhibition by Andrew Jackson. It’s about the Little Burgundy neighbourhood in Montreal, which has a strong Black history.
Over two years, Andrew captured powerful images of the area and the people who live there. There are 61 photographs in total, along with three short films where local residents share their personal stories.
What makes this exhibition special is how it captures both the beauty and the heartbreak of a place undergoing change. There’s urban renewal, gentrification, and everything in between.
I especially loved how they paired contemporary photographs with historic objects and community-donated pieces. It showed the neighbourhood’s evolution in a way that felt very alive and real.
| Pro tip: Don’t be shy to ask a museum staff member about Andrew Jackson’s process. Some of them are familiar with how he created the work and can give cool behind-the-scenes info that isn’t on the wall labels. |
12. Costume Balls: Dressing History, 1870 – 1927
Media credits: themain
Price: $$
Date: Until August 17, 2025
Although it’s accessible online, I still decided to check out the Costume Balls exhibition in person. It’s pretty amazing that I got to explore over 40 stunning historic costumes, most of which were made for just one single night of glamour.
The details are incredible, from delicate embroidery to the sheer drama of some of the silhouettes. There’s also a photo booth activity and creative tools to make your own photomontage. It added more fun to the experience.
It’s not just about fancy clothes, though. The exhibition also explains how these parties were tied to history and politics at the same time. It even briefly touched on some important points about how they reflected ideas of power and colonialism.
| Pro tip: Don’t forget to listen to the period music playing in the exhibition. It helps you fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the costume balls. It’s great in enhancing the sensory experience of the era’s social events. |
Best art exhibition at the Canadian Centre of Architecture (CCA)
Address: 1920 Baile St
Contact details: +1 514-939-7026
Operating hours:
- Monday to Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 11 AM – 6 PM
- Thursday: 11 AM – 9 PM
- Friday to Saturday: 11 AM – 6 PM
- Sunday: 11 AM – 5 PM
13. Oscillating Spaces
Media credits: fgarutti
Price: $
Date: Until October 26, 2025
Mainly, Oscillating Spaces holds space for discussion about the Rhone Glacier and how it’s changing because of climate change. But it’s not just about science.
There are also old maps, photos, and even church documents mixed in with modern art and architecture. It shows how everything from animals and plants to buildings and people is affected by a melting glacier.
It sounds deep, but it’s presented in a really cool and creative way. Plus, it’s interesting how the display connects human stories with natural transformation. You get to see how artists and architects are documenting the Alpine region as it changes in real-time.
| Pro tip: Set aside at least 90 minutes. There’s a lot to absorb here, especially if you enjoy reading panels or watching the short films. |
