Art Museums and Galleries in Montreal

Did you know?
Visitors, wanting to visit the different museums in Montral, can acquire a Montral Museums Pass, which allows free access to 30 museums in the city for three consecutive days, along with public transit.Montral is the second-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris. Located in Qubec, Canada, it is renowned for its unique culture and as a metropolitan hub. Montral is often compared to European cities, and its cultural attractions are one of the reasons for this comparison. World-class museums displaying the history and culture of the city through the ages are an important facet of Montral, and of a particular interest, especially for the foreign tourists. Of these, the various art museums should not be missed. Alongside museums, the city of Montral also boasts of several art galleries that display various commercial art exhibits by the city's contemporary artists, throughout the year. We have compiled a list of some of the important art museums and galleries in Montral, so that you can experience the history and culture of the city, while you tour Qubec.

Art Museums in Montral
Art is an important part of Montrals unique culture, owing to which, they have a number of museums dedicated either fully or partly, to the art of the city and of Qubec, and its evolution through time. Following are some of the major art museums in Montral.

Montral Museum of Fine Arts
The Montral Museum of Fine Arts is one of the most popular museums, not just in Montral, but in all of Canada. With the unique architecture of the museum building, and a history that dates back to its founding in 1860, it is the oldest art museum in Canada, definitely worth a visit.

Like many new-world art museums, this museum houses an impressive collection of indigenous arts and artifacts, along with Western art.

Art from Qubec in particular and Canada in general, form an important part of the museums permanent collection, and the works on display are frequently rotated so that return visits can be encouraged.

The museum has been divided into three pavilions viz., the Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion that houses various artistic objects related to Qubec's history; the Jean-Nol Desmarais Pavilion that displays the works of art from around the world; and the Liliane and David M. Stewart Pavilion, a commercial space where people can host their private events.

In 1972, the museum was victim of the largest art robbery in Canadas history, then. The robbery was worth $2 million. Unfortunately, the stolen works were never found.
Muse d'art contemporain de Montral
No list of art museums in Montral would be complete without mentioning the Muse dart contemporain - the citys contemporary art museum, founded in 1964.

Located in a building marked by imposing spires and a combination of white stone and black glass, this museum is difficult to ignore.

Canada's first ever museum devoted to contemporary art, it houses art objects from 1940 onwards.

The facility also serves as a gallery for contemporary artists working in multiple media.

The museum has a total of eight galleries. Four of them are reserved for exhibitions from the museum's permanent collection, while four others host temporary exhibitions by contemporary artists.

The museum's permanent collection includes works of contemporary art not only from Qubec and Canada, but also from the rest of the world.

Interestingly, the museum is the only cultural complex in Canada that is dedicated to both visual and performing contemporary art forms.
McCord Museum
Founded in 1921, the McCord Museum is dedicated to not only the preservation and appreciation of Canadian history, but also to educating people about the same.

Officially named as the McCord Museum of Canadian History, it was managed by the McGill University for about 60 years, after which it went on to become a privately owned institution.

The original collection of the museum was based on the art objects which the McCord family possessed, substantial additions to which were made over the years. Today, the museum houses over 7,000 pieces of contemporary art in its permanent collection.

Currently, the institute is supported jointly by the governments of Montral, Qubec, and Canada, and also by a large number of sponsors, donors, and members.
Muse de Lachine
Located in the borough of Lachine in Montral, this museum was founded in 1948, along the St. Lawrence River.

One of the important archaeological sites in Montral, the museum complex itself is a National Historic Site of Canada and thus, is a protected monument.

The most remarkable collections of the museum are the beautiful sculptures, made by some renowned local artists.

The museum houses several free exhibits alongside many activities in which the visitors can participate free of cost.
Muse des matres et artisans du Qubec
Situated in the 19th century neo-gothic church in the borough of Saint-Laurent in Montral, this Museum of masters and artisans in Quebec was founded in 1979 as the Art Museum of St. Lawrence.

The original collection of the museum included randomly selected art objects from around the world, which belonged to the personal collection of Father Joseph-Clestin Carrier since the early 19th century. Unfortunately, only about 500 objects from the original collection have survived till date.

In 2002, the permanent collection of the museum was rebuilt owing to which a new exhibition named Mains de matres was inaugurated in 2003.

Today, the museum also focuses on conservation and education alongside the exhibition of artisans' works.
Museum of the Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal
Located on Westmount Summit in Montral is a Roman Catholic basilica, and Canada's largest church.

There is a museum in the church dedicated mainly to Christian art, with a large display of nativity scenes from around the world.

Visitors can take a tour of the religious and artistic heritage of Qubec through various periods in history.

The reliquary displayed in the church museum which forms a part of its permanent collection, is of particular interest for the visitors.
Apart from these major ones, there are many other museums in Montral, pertaining to numerous other aspects of the city's history. The Canadian Centre for Architecture, a museum of architecture and a research center is interesting, in that, though it does not qualify as a full-fledged art museum, its sculpture garden, displaying sculptures that deconstruct architecture, is very popular. Similarly, although the Stewart Museum primarily pertains to military history, its collection of art objects from the 16th century through the 19th century is interesting.

Art Galleries in Montral
Montral also has a plethora of art galleries, wherein some or the other interesting exhibits are on display throughout the year. Visitors can not only go and see these exhibitions, but also meet and interact with the artists, and purchase their works.

DHC/ART
DHC/ART is a Canadian foundation, aiming to promote the works of contemporary art in the city of Montral.

The foundation owns a free exhibition gallery in the city, which displays the works of various artists of international repute.

The foundation also aims to educate the visitors and spread awareness among them, with regards to the recent trends in contemporary art.
Galerie d'art Borduas
The Borduas Art Gallery in Montral is a gallery, specially dedicated to the display of fine arts exhibitions.

The gallery has featured several renowned artists from Qubec till date, including Jean-Paul Riopelle, Darrell Duchene, and Nicole Ouellet.

The gallery's displays generally specialize in the arts of etching, watercolor, and lithography.
Stewart Hall Art Gallery
The Stewart Hall Art Gallery is housed in a beautiful mansion, located near Lake St. Louis, adjoining the island of Montral.

It is one of the most popular art galleries in Montral, which holds art exhibitions on varied themes all through the year.

There is a boutique, just adjoining the gallery, where one can purchase beautiful handmade objects made by different Canadian artists.
Galerie de Bellefeuille
Founded in 1980, this art gallery has a history of promoting some of the top contemporary artists of Canada, and the world.

Located in an area that spans 10,000 square feet, the gallery hosts numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the year.

Interestingly, the gallery can simultaneously mount two individual exhibitions at the same time.
Beaux-Arts des Amriques
This art gallery is particularly famous for giving the much-needed exposure to the emerging artists from Qubec in particular, and Canada in general.

The gallery is also known to promote a large number of works by the artists from the United States and the Caribbean.

Representative of the particular times, places, and cultures, many works, once exhibited in this gallery, are now in significant private and public collections.
University Galleries
Montrals several well-known universities, including Concordia, provide more venues for Montral visitors interested in art.

Concordia Universitys Gallery X is particularly interesting, because its curators keep changing each year.

The gallery focuses on contemporary works by regional artists, so its a good place to get a feel for whats going on in the local art scene.

The Universit de Montral is also home to a contemporary art gallery called Centre dexposition.
Several other small art galleries, many of them dedicated to contemporary art, can be found throughout Montral. Tourist guides and websites have a wealth of information about these. The Old Montral section of the city, along the Rue Saint-Paul, is generally considered to be the citys main gallery district. Strolling through the gallery district has the added advantage of taking visitors by many top-notch shops and restaurants, lending a little more diversity to an afternoon of art viewing.

For those who prefer anything from individual art galleries to museums with permanent collections, Montral has a lot to offer. Touring Montral without visiting at least one or two art museums and galleries would be like missing an important part of the city's culture. Montral is known for valuing and fostering the arts, so even people who arent interested much in art, should give these places a try.