Top 5 Montréal Art Exhibits to See This Week – Vernissages Worth Discovering

As May unfolds its full spring magic, so does the cultural landscape of the city. This week’s vernissages bring together emerging talents, refined curations, and immersive installations that speak directly to the soul of Montreal Art Exhibits. Whether you’re a collector, casual art fan, or gallery crawler, these five exhibitions will spark inspiration and offer a deeper connection to the ever-evolving local scene.

🪑 1. Intérieurs – Conversations entre l’art et le design

📍 Maison Keï Akai, 1428 rue Sherbrooke Ouest
📅 Vernissages :
– Mardi 20 mai (15h30 à 19h30)
– Vendredi 23 mai (13h à 16h30)
– Samedi 24 mai (13h à 16h30)

This thoughtfully curated collective show creates a dialogue between visual art on the walls and functional design elements scattered throughout the space—think sculptural chairs, minimalist tables, and poetic lighting. Hosted in the bright and airy Maison Keï Akai, the exhibition invites visitors into intimate encounters with works by Audrey-Ève Goulet, Christine Hodgson, Joanes, Yanelis Reynaldo Carson, and Franco Égalité. Surrounding them are stunning designs by Lauren Goodman, Le Tenon et la Mortaise, Sangaré, and more.

It’s a perfect example of how Montreal Art Exhibits bridge fine art and everyday design, where function becomes form and vice versa. Highly recommended for lovers of interiors, curation, and visual balance.

🧑‍🎓 2. Saison des Vernissages Étudiants – Collège Dawson

📍 Galerie Warren G. Flowers & autres salles, 3040 rue Sherbrooke Ouest
📅 Mercredi 21 mai & Vendredi 23 mai 2025

Every spring, Montreal’s art schools burst with fresh perspectives, and Dawson College’s weeklong series of vernissages is one of the highlights of the academic year. This week kicks off with four shows that give you a taste of the creative energy of the next generation. The recommended stop? The visual arts vernissage on Friday, May 23 from 17h30 to 20h at the Warren G. Flowers Gallery.

Other vernissages include:

• Illustration (21 mai – salle 3C.1)

• Industrial Design (21 mai – salle 5B.16)

• Photography (21 mai – salle 2F.4)

Witness how Montreal Art Exhibits begins with ideas in progress and passion unfiltered.

🔥 3. DOGMA – Expo solo de Yoakim Bélanger

📍 Galerie LeRoyer, 41 rue St-Paul Ouest, Vieux-Montréal
📅 Jeudi 22 mai de 17h à 20h

Known for his visceral use of oxidized steel and his background in design, photography, and video, Yoakim Bélanger returns with DOGMA, an exhibit that pushes emotional intensity through corporeal themes and theatrical tension. This solo show will undoubtedly command attention in the elegant and expansive Galerie LeRoyer, where large-scale works truly come alive.

His exploration of the human body as both vessel and symbol feels right at home in the context of Montreal Art Exhibits, where bold emotion and material experimentation often go hand in hand.

🌸 4. Une Existence Suspensive – Olivier Vilaire

📍 Salon floral Fauna, 5338 boul. St-Laurent
📅 Jeudi 22 mai 2025 de 17h à 21h

Curated by Fabienne E. Parisien, this solo show features the deeply spiritual and narrative-rich work of Olivier Vilaire, a painter originally from Port-au-Prince, Haïti. His work has been shown at Le Livart, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and now makes a poetic appearance in the charmingly obscure setting of Salon Floral Fauna.

This exhibition captures a different thread of Montreal Art Exhibits, one that connects diaspora, identity, and memory through brushstroke and color.

📷 5. Being Alive – Twice Aidan Matthews

📍 Espace Transmission, 5435 rue des Érables
📅 Vendredi 23 mai de 18h à 23h

Part photography exhibition, part book launch, Being Alive marks the culmination of four years of creative work by Twice Aidan Matthews. Hosted in a converted garage with breathtaking vertical space and architectural character, the vernissage offers a multisensory experience.

The photographs, edited and manipulated to add conceptual depth, invite the viewer to reflect on the ordinary in extraordinary ways. Matthews’ work is meditative, bold, and speaks to the subtle side of Montreal Art Exhibits where meaning hides in the margins and stillness commands attention.

🗓️ Why These Vernissages Matter

From student showcases to multidisciplinary solo exhibitions, this week highlights the diversity and vibrancy of the Montreal Art Exhibits ecosystem. Whether you’re drawn to raw emerging voices or polished contemporary statements, these five vernissages offer something for every curious mind and open eye.

Make space in your calendar, grab a friend, and step into the richness of the local art scene. And don’t forget these exhibitions are more than just events; they’re moments that shape the narrative of Montreal Art Exhibits, one canvas at a time.

Learn More About In Situ Radio & Visual Arts Events 🎧🎨

For more information on visual arts events and related disciplines featured in the In Situ list, check out the In Situ blog magazine or follow the In Situ Radio Magazine Facebook page.

In Situ is one of the few radio programs in Quebec fully dedicated to visual arts and related practices. On air since 2010, the show airs Saturdays from 12 PM to 1 PM on Radio Centre-ville 102.3 FM and is hosted by a passionate team aiming to both engage the arts community and spark curiosity in the general public.

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