Art exhibits, Cocktails & Contemporary Art: Your Best Kept MTL guide
Looking for the best openings and exhibitions happening this week? From legendary singer-painter Plume Latraverse’s rare visual art showcase to massive contemporary installations and dreamlike photography, this week’s selection highlights some of the most compelling events in the city’s cultural landscape.
Here are the Top 5 Montreal Art Exhibits to discover on June 17 and 18.
1️⃣ Chansons à l’huile — LATRAV (Plume Latraverse)
📍 Galerie 203, 203 rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Vieux-Montréal
🗺️ Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=203+rue+Notre-Dame+Ouest+Montreal
📅 Wednesday, June 17 | 5 PM – 8 PM
One of the most anticipated events, this week is undoubtedly the opening of Chansons à l’huile, featuring works by legendary Quebec artist and musician Plume Latraverse under his visual arts pseudonym, LATRAV.
While most know Plume for his irreverent songwriting career spanning decades, fewer realize that he has been painting since the 1960s and even worked professionally as a portrait artist. Presented by Galerie Noir et Rouge under the honorary presidency of André Ménard, the exhibition gathers 25 paintings and runs until September 15.
Although the artist himself will not attend the vernissage, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to discover another side of a true Quebec cultural icon.
🎨 Why Go?
A unique chance to explore the visual universe of one of Quebec’s most influential artists.
2️⃣ L’Inconscient Argentique
📍 Yellow Fish Art, 3623 boulevard Saint-Laurent, Montréal
🗺️ Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=3623+boulevard+Saint-Laurent+Montreal
📅 Wednesday, June 17 | 6:30 PM
Yellow Fish Art consistently produces some of the most original openings, and this exhibition is no exception.
Featuring photographers Marianne Larochelle and Estelle Pretro, L’Inconscient Argentique explores memory, dreams, identity and the subconscious through experimental photography.
Larochelle combines multiple exposures, light painting and long-exposure techniques inspired by historical photographic practices, while Pretro revisits and digitally restores analog works dating back to 1993.
Expect an evening where photography blurs the line between reality and imagination.
📸 Why Go?
A fascinating exploration of dream imagery through contemporary photographic practices.
3️⃣ Expo XL7
📍 Maison de la Culture Plateau-Mont-Royal, 465 avenue du Mont-Royal Est, Montréal
🗺️ Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=465+avenue+du+Mont-Royal+Est+Montreal
📅 Thursday, June 18 | 5 PM – 7:30 PM
One of the largest and most anticipated exhibitions in Montréal returns for its 17th edition.
Curated by Dju Robinson, Philippe Mayer and Dominique Desbiens, Expo XL7 brings together 24 artists working on a monumental scale. Known for showcasing emerging and underground talent, this annual exhibition consistently draws impressive crowds.
The exhibition will later expand to a second venue at Galerie d’Art Outremont beginning July 9, further highlighting its growing importance within Montreal’s visual arts community.
🖼️ Why Go?
Massive works, emerging artists and one of the city’s most dynamic summer exhibitions.
4️⃣ Les Territoires en Nous
📍 Valence Art Expo & Galerie Éric Devlin, 2456 rue Beaubien Est, Montréal
🗺️ Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=2456+rue+Beaubien+Est+Montreal
📅 Thursday, June 18 | 5 PM – 8 PM
This intimate vernissage offers visitors a chance to discover three exciting contemporary artists: Marie-Chloé Duval, Joanna Chelkowska and Ariane Duplessis.
Through painting, drawing and mixed media, the exhibition explores personal territories, memory, identity and emotional landscapes.
Adding to the atmosphere, poet and slam artist Koly Vahy will participate in the evening’s festivities. The venue itself—an apartment transformed into gallery space—creates a warm and welcoming environment unlike a traditional gallery setting.
✨ Why Go?
An intimate cultural experience combining visual art, poetry and community.
5️⃣ Solstice — Collective Exhibition Closing Party
📍 Galerie d’Art Émergence, 2130 rue Crescent, Montréal
🗺️ Google Maps: https://maps.google.com/?q=2130+rue+Crescent+Montreal
📅 Thursday, June 18 | 6 PM – 9 PM
Celebrate the arrival of summer with the closing event of Solstice, a collective exhibition highlighting emerging artistic voices.
Galerie Émergence has become a key destination, offering exhibition opportunities to artists from multiple generations while creating welcoming and accessible cultural events.
Visitors can enjoy complimentary cocktails while taking in the final days of an exhibition that has already generated strong interest throughout its run.
🌞 Why Go?
A festive summer gathering and a final chance to experience a strong collective exhibition before it closes.
Stay Connected to the Art Scene
This weekend’s lineup perfectly captures the diversity of Montreal’s contemporary art scene. Whether you’re interested in digital experimentation, abstraction, immersive installations, artist-run initiatives, or emerging gallery spaces, there is no shortage of inspiring exhibitions to discover.
For more Montreal vernissages, radio features, and in depth coverage of visual arts and related disciplines, explore Magazine Radio In Situ, one of the city’s few programs fully dedicated to visual arts since 2010.
Airs Saturdays from 12 PM to 1 PM on Radio Centre Ville 102.3 FM
magazineinsitu.art
radiocentre ville.com
Facebook: Magazine Radio In Situ
Last but not least! If you’re looking to tap into Montreal’s most curated events, hidden gems, and creative scene, Best Kept MTL is where it happens. From cultural coverage to brand collaborations, we work with partners who want to connect with a refined, engaged Montreal audience.
Happy gallery hopping!
