Top 5 Montreal Art Galleries to Visit This January
January is one of the most exciting times of year to explore Montreal Art Galleries. As the city settles into winter, the art scene responds with a dense calendar of vernissages, exhibition openings, and cultural launches that reflect the depth and diversity of contemporary art in Montreal. From photography and immersive digital installations to painting and pop art, this week offers a strong snapshot of the Montreal art scene at its best.
1. Cinémathèque Québécoise and Ciel Variable Magazine Launch
📍 335 De Maisonneuve Blvd East
📅 Thursday, January 22, 2026
⏰ 5:30 PM to 8:30 PM
The café bar of the Cinémathèque Québécoise becomes a central gathering point within the Montreal Art Galleries landscape with a double launch organized by Ciel Variable. The evening celebrates the release of issue number 131 of Ciel Variable Magazine, focused on collecting, alongside the launch of Gestures and Rituals of the Darkroom by photographer Michel Campeau.
A founding member of the GAP collective, Campeau remains deeply committed to analog photography and darkroom practices. This launch highlights both his latest publication and the enduring relevance of photographic craftsmanship today. Events hosted by Ciel Variable are also known for their welcoming atmosphere, thoughtful exchanges, and generous hospitality, making this one of the most engaging Montreal Art Galleries events of the week.
2. OBORO and Immersive Digital Art Installations
📍 4001 Berri Street, Suite 401
📅 Friday, January 23, 2026
⏰ 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM
OBORO continues to stand out among Montreal Art Galleries with a double vernissage featuring The Embrace of the Saw by Laura Acosta and Santiago Tavera, alongside Household Portrait by Nora Rosenthal. Known for its leadership in digital and media art, OBORO consistently delivers exhibitions that challenge form and perception.
The installations combine video, sound, sculptural elements, and experimental narration to explore memory, rupture, grief, and transformation. OBORO’s vernissages are also appreciated for their warm, inclusive energy and generous vegetarian spread, reinforcing its role as a key hub within the Montreal art scene.
3. Galerie C.O.A. and Alexandra Levasseur Solo Exhibition
📍 6405 Saint Laurent Boulevard
📅 Saturday, January 24, 2026
⏰ 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Galerie C.O.A. has established itself as one of the most approachable yet conceptually solid Montreal Art Galleries. This solo exhibition by Alexandra Levasseur highlights a multidisciplinary practice bridging painting, sculpture, ceramics, and animation.
Levasseur explores the relationship between humans and nature through references to physics, biology, mythology, and surrealist automatism. Large scale paintings with ceramic reliefs function as spaces of transformation, while her animation project Les Bienfaiteurs expands the work into moving image. Galerie C.O.A. is also known for its relaxed daytime vernissages and welcoming atmosphere, making it an ideal stop for deeper engagement with contemporary art in Montreal.
4. BRIX and Folie à Deux Exhibition
📍 1090 Bleury Street
📅 Saturday, January 24, 2026
⏰ 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Located in the heart of the Quartier des spectacles, BRIX hosts Folie à Deux, an exhibition bringing together Sylvain Prévost and Caya. Both artists draw from pop art and comic book aesthetics, resulting in bold compositions defined by vivid colours and strong graphic storytelling.
BRIX offers a polished and festive environment that attracts both seasoned collectors and newcomers exploring Montreal Art Galleries for the first time. This exhibition is particularly well suited for a Saturday evening art crawl downtown.
5. Galerie d’Art Émergence and Force Exhibition
📍 2130 Crescent Street, Suite 1
📅 Saturday, January 24, 2026
⏰ 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Rounding out our Top 5 Montreal Art Galleries, Galerie d’Art Émergence presents Force, an exhibition dedicated to emerging artists. Located downtown, the gallery positions art as a sensory experience that goes beyond the visual.
Visitors are invited to engage with powerful contemporary works while enjoying complimentary cocktails and curated hospitality. Galerie d’Art Émergence plays an important role in supporting new voices and remains one of the Montreal Art Galleries to watch for those interested in discovering fresh talent in an energetic setting.
This curated selection is brought to you by the Best Kept MTL team, dedicated to spotlighting the people, places, and moments shaping Montreal’s cultural landscape.
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
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Before you lock in your Igloofest nights, take a moment to see which performances truly stand out.
