We visited the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.
- Delphine & Romain Class
- Jul 4
- 5 min read
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is a cultural gem located in the heart of the city, offering a vast collection of artworks spanning several centuries and artistic styles. While its impressive collection of classical art is a must-see, it is in its modern and contemporary art galleries that the museum truly reveals its modern spirit.
A Museum at the Crossroads of Artistic Genres
Since its founding in 1860, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) has evolved into a must-visit institution, not only for its classical masterpieces but also for its contemporary creations. The diversity of its collections allows visitors to appreciate a wide variety of styles—from realism to surrealism, including impressionism and abstract art. However, it is the modern and contemporary works that often prove the most daring, perfectly reflecting the vibrant, forward-thinking spirit of Montreal—a city brimming with new ideas.
Modern Art: Between Formal Exploration and Radicalism
The MMFA’s modern works explore the rise of revolutionary artistic movements such as Cubism, Fauvism, and geometric abstraction. The great masters of these movements are well represented, with works by Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque, Henri Matisse, and Amedeo Modigliani. These artists transformed art by deconstructing traditional perspective, color, and form to create new ways of seeing and interpreting reality.
A striking example from this era is Still Life with Fruit by Picasso, a key work that reflects his relentless investigation of space and form. His radical approach broke with pictorial conventions of the time, paving the way for a new kind of art—both intellectual and visually bold.
Contemporary Art: Between Immersion and Reflection
But it is contemporary art that undoubtedly brings a fresh energy to the MMFA. This section of the museum is a true crossroads of styles and experimentation, featuring installations, sculptures, videos, and other artistic forms that challenge conventions.
One of the major contemporary artists featured at the museum is David Altmejd, a Canadian artist known for his fascinating sculptures that intertwine the human body, nature, and the fantastical. His work Le Cœur (The Heart) is a prime example of how Altmejd questions our relationship with both the beauty and fragility of the body. The interaction of heterogeneous materials—such as mirrors, feathers, and gemstones—provokes deep reflection on self-perception and our view of the world.
The museum also showcases works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, one of the most iconic artists of the 1980s. His raw, vibrant, and energetic painting remains strikingly relevant today. His art is a cry of revolt against social and racial injustice—a message that still resonates powerfully in today’s social context.
In the contemporary galleries, visitors will also find bold installations by Niki de Saint Phalle, along with works by Yayoi Kusama, the renowned Japanese artist whose famous dots and obsessive patterns have made her an icon in the art world. Her immersive installations, where visitors find themselves lost in a sea of polka dots and mirrors, offer a truly unique sensory experience.
Highlights of the Moment: Claire Tabouret and Jaume Plensa
The MMFA's current exhibition also stands out for its inclusion of living contemporary artists, whose singular voices enrich the museum experience. Among them, Claire Tabouret shines with her unique approach to portraiture and figuration. Her deeply sensitive painting offers an introspective gaze into human identity.
Her piece Les Géants (The Giants), currently on display at the museum, embodies this exploration of humanity in a world where the boundaries of identity are increasingly blurred. The canvas is a tangle of human figures, their faces partially distorted, as if the artist seeks to capture the essence of her subjects while stripping away their apparent individuality. This approach suggests that identity is fluid, constantly evolving, and that we are all both isolated and connected. The vivid color palette and sketch-like brushstrokes imbue the work with strong emotional dynamism, opening up numerous avenues for reflection on how we perceive ourselves and others.
Alongside painting, Jaume Plensa, the internationally renowned Catalan sculptor, also holds a central place in the contemporary art collection at the MMFA. His sculpture Alma, displayed in one of the major galleries, is a monumental work that leaves a strong impression due to its impressive size and poetic approach to the human figure. This sculpted face, which appears compressed, almost crushed, echoes contemporary concerns related to identity and how we perceive ourselves in the world. The transparency of the sculpture, which allows the space around the artwork to be seen, evokes the idea that individuality and collectivity are inextricably linked, and that the boundaries between these two concepts are often blurred.
Plensa’s work invites viewers to reflect on the meaning of existence and the interconnectedness of human beings. Its imposing scale creates an atmosphere of contemplation, where formal beauty is combined with a deeper meditation on the issues of art and society.
An Immersive Experience: Art Beyond the Works
In addition to permanent and temporary exhibitions, the MMFA offers a total immersion in art through the use of interactive technologies. Touchscreen kiosks, enhanced audio guides, and multimedia installations allow visitors to better understand the creative processes of artists and the impact of their works. For example, some contemporary artists use video, light, and sound to immerse spectators in complex visual worlds, offering them a unique sensory experience.
Interactive exhibitions also encourage questioning art beyond traditional frameworks. They invite exploration of the relationships between the artist, the artwork, and the audience, while making art more accessible and engaging.
A Constant Dialogue Between Past and Present
The MMFA is not just an exhibition space; it is also a place of dialogue between different eras and artistic movements. By exploring its collections, visitors can see how art from the past influences the present, as well as how contemporary art continues to rethink the ideas and forms inherited from modernism. It is this interaction across centuries that enriches the experience.
Conclusion: A Must-Visit for Art Enthusiasts
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is much more than just a museum. It is a place of reflection and discovery, where art becomes a tool to understand our contemporary world. Whether you are passionate about modern art or more interested in contemporary works, a visit to the MMFA will allow you to discover striking pieces that, far from being merely formally beautiful, provoke genuine reflection on our place in society.
With artists like Claire Tabouret, Jaume Plensa, and many others, the museum offers a fascinating and enriching journey that is sure to leave a lasting impression. It is an essential destination for anyone wishing to see, feel, and understand art in its many facets, while engaging with the concerns of today’s world.
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