Plural 2025 | Still Breaking Frames and Boundaries!
Plural 2025: Montreal’s Contemporary Art Fair Celebrates 40 Years of Innovation at the Grand Quai
Mark your calendars for April 11 to 13, as Plural 2025 takes over the Grand Quai of the Old Port of Montreal for a vibrant, three-day celebration of contemporary Canadian art.
With over 500 artists, 44 exhibiting galleries, and a special 40th anniversary retrospective kiosk from AGAC (Association des galeries d’art contemporain), this year’s edition promises an unforgettable experience for art lovers, collectors, and curious minds alike.
A Legacy of Contemporary Art
What started in 2007 as “Papier” a fair originally focused on paper-based works, has evolved into Plural, a full-spectrum showcase of contemporary art practices from across the country. The transformation into Plural in 2023 reflected not only a name change but a bold embrace of pluralism: diverse voices, perspectives, and artistic mediums, all coexisting under one roof.
In 2025, Plural will mark a major milestone: the 40th anniversary of AGAC, the driving force behind the fair. To celebrate, visitors will be treated to a special kiosk installation on the second floor of the Pavilion. This retrospective walk-through will feature never-before-seen archives and highlights from four decades of bold projects and artistic moments that have shaped the Canadian contemporary art landscape.
Who’s Exhibiting?
On the first floor, fairgoers will explore booths from 37 commercial galleries representing the crème de la crème of Canadian contemporary art. Highlights include Montreal powerhouses like Art Mûr, Blouin Division, and Bradley Ertaskiran, as well as Toronto-based icons like Patel Brown, Daniel Faria Gallery, and many others! This is your chance to not only view but purchase works directly from the country’s most exciting artists.
On the second floor, the “project spaces” spotlight seven emerging and alternative galleries, offering a platform to rising talents and experimental curations. This mix of established and upcoming voices makes Plural a uniquely accessible entry point into collecting and discovering art. This opens the door for galleries with modest PR budgets, and even outsider or underground artists to finally break through in the art fair scene.
Traditionally, only well-established names or commercially successful galleries can afford that kind of visibility, much like Art Basel, where gallerists and agents must rent high-priced booths to be seen.
Special Exhibition: Le témoignage des matérialités sensibles
Curated by Anaïs Castro, this poetic and powerful exhibition explores the relationship between memory and matter through the work of 11 artists, including Nadia Belerique, Myriam Dion, and Gabrielle L’Hirondelle Hill. Located on the second floor, this curated show is one of the most anticipated experiences at Plural this year, a meditative break from the bustle of the booths and a conceptual look at how memory imprints itself on objects, gestures, and images.
As someone who has done research & concept work for THE DALÌ DREAM FACTORY, with the talented and brilliant Félix Bélanger, CEO and Creative producer of the DAVINA DALÌ exhibit (also exhibited at Le Grand Quai) I love exhibits which deal with memories and reveries.
Programming for All
Plural is more than a fair, it’s a full cultural activation. The Forum Plural offers a dynamic mix of talks, workshops, and guided tours, with topics ranging from decolonial abstraction to how to build your first art collection. Whether you’re an art professional, an emerging collector, or just looking for inspiration, the programming is designed to engage and educate.
Plan Your Visit
Dates:
Friday, April 11 – 12 PM to 9 PM
Saturday, April 12 – 11 AM to 7 PM
Sunday, April 13 – 11 AM to 6 PM
Location:
Grand Quai du Port de Montréal
200 rue de la Commune O., Montréal, QC
Entrance is on the 2nd floor (east side staircase); accessible entrances available.
Regular Ticket Info SECURE YOURS NOW!
3-Day Pass: $60
General Admission: $25
Seniors: $23
Students: $20
Plural Fundraiser VIP Night!!! THESE SELL FAST!
Whether you’re coming to browse, collect, or dive deep into Canada’s contemporary art scene, Plural 2025 offers a vibrant, pluralistic vision of what art can be — and where it’s going. Come celebrate 40 years of bold creativity with us this April at the Grand Quai! Past PLURAL ( formerly PAPIER) Previews!
