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Musee d'art contemporain de Montréal
Category: Arts & Entertainment Museums Museums [Edit]
185 rue Sainte-Catherine OuestMontreal, QC H2X 3X5
(514) 847-6226
- Hours:
Tue, Thu-Sun 11 am - 6 pm
Wed 11 am - 9 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
22 reviews for Musee d'art contemporain de Montréal
Review Highlights
"Admission is also free on Wednesday from 6pm-9pm."
(in 2 reviews)
"...by the risk that the curators took in their selection of..."
(in 3 reviews)
"Though, the rest of the galleries were a great surprise."
(in 4 reviews)
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21 reviews in English
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Review from Risa D.
10/12/2011
Not massive, but a space that manages to feel both wide open and labyrinthine. The curation is often provocative and touching - the website is bilingual so you can check what's showing before you show up.
Don't plan to spend a day - Fresh breath of art and you're out. Free Wednesday evenings and open for live shows one Friday night a month showcasing musicians, dancers, vjs.
The best thing about the MACM is that it feels integrated into local real life - lots of Montrealers come down weekly to walk through whatever is showing, and the outdoor space (when not chaotic with jazz or jfl fests) is curated with public art projects like big swings, dancing lights, glowing tents and orby things, and motion-censor fountains. -
Review from jocelyn l.
10/31/2011
Eh, i'd pass if you only had a couple of days in Montreal.
It was Very small (1 floor of exhibits) and although only $12, i didn't think it was worth it.
We covered the entire museum in 40 mins...and we were taking our own sweet time -
Review from Kristen M.
1/3/2012
Excellent exhibits... the instillations were impressive. Well worth the cost.
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Review from Moira R.
4/3/2011
On my visit they were in between exhibits, but they had a small exhibit of art films that I found to be interesting. The media was well presented.
I was most struck by the building and the immediate outside surroundings. It is no surprise that this is a popular hang out during the warmer months.
I'm sorry that I can't say much more since very little was happening while I was there, but what little I saw was worth going back. I would definitely return.Listed in: Montreal, QC
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Review from Katy H.
11/25/2010
Fantastic museum!
A wide variety of exhibits that are carefully presented and maintained. I never would have expected this museum to rival some of my favorites (Reina Sofia, The Metropolitan Musuem of Modern Art, the Louvre) but after 5 years it still holds a place in my heart. I'm a big fan of furniture and they had an amazing exhibit (when I went) of furniture that totally blew my mind.Listed in: Vacation destinations
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Review from May N.
10/22/2010
Free admission on Wednesday nights from 17:00-21:00. And it's not too out there stuff!
I caught the shortlist of the Sobey Art Awards so the 5 finalists' work was on display and the winner will be announced in November. It was a real treat to wander around the exhibits. I felt like I could really understand the minorities' work about identity (Chinese-style vases mixed with robot-looking pieces) and language (computer screen "totems" speaking something you're not going to understand). At the end was a video interviewing the artists about their works which was fun and inspiring.
The plaza it's located on is lovely, too bad there's all the construction going on as the city is renovating the area, guaranteed to last through 2012. We ate at Brasserie T and looked around Eva B before arriving for the free admission. -
Review from Leighann F.
12/24/2008
Please allow me to introduce myself, I'm a man of wealth and taste...
If you've been able to correctly identify that as the first line of the infamous Stone's song "Sympathy For The Devil," you're already asking yourself what on earth this has to do with contemporary art in Montreal.
Quite by chance, our visit to Montreal and thus their sterile and sleek Contemporary Art Museum on Saint Catherine, coincided with their current exposition on the interaction, co-dependence and creative intertwining of the Art and Rock N Roll, aptly titled, "Sympathy For The Devil: Art and Rock & Roll Since 1967. From Andy Warhol and the Velvet Underground to Richard Prince to Jim Lambie, the exhibition was comprehensive in scope (covering artists and musicians from all over the glboe) and visually stunning.
One of my favorite components of the exhibit was a room with several floor-to-ceiling openings and a floor covered from wall to wall with records. The doors, Zepplin, Pink Floyd. It felt kind of sacrilege to be stepping on the greats of rock-n-roll like that, but so many people were doing it, crouching down and reading the names...everyone stepping oh-so-carefully. So.Awesome.
Aside from this special installation (which only runs until January11), this wasn't one of my favorite museums. I've visited a few in NYC, Boston, San Francisco, Italy. I felt that the layout seemed confined, almost cold and unfinished. The staff wasn't as welcoming as other yelpers described. If they regularly do expositions as bad ass as Sympathy For The Devil, it's more of a reason to visit than for the aesthetics of the space.Listed in: Merci, Montreal!
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Review from Beth M.
1/3/2010
I found this museum to be inspiring, and for $8, I consider it a deal.
The permanent collection was interesting but I really enjoyed Tricia Middleton's exhibition (it's over now). She created a little magical world for her installation--even my left-brained husband liked it.
No photography is allowed and I really wished I had brought a sketchbook. There was some cute stuff in the gift shop (isn't there always great stuff in museum gift shops?) so be sure to check it out on your way out.Listed in: A Midwesterner in Montreal
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Review from Justin P.
5/19/2011
Twenty thousand square feet, twenty self-indulgent turds. How can such a huge museum contain so little art? What a waste.
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Review from Anlina S.
Winnipeg, MB
1/11/2010
We came here between exhibits, so a good portion of the museum was closed, but I still really enjoyed my visit.
There was a really nice variety of pieces. I particularly enjoyed the sound installation, "The Silence is Twice as Fast Backwards" that they currently have in the basement; a half hour video piece of a Rube Goldbergesque set up, which was an incredible piece of engineering and chemistry (totally worth spending the 30 minutes it takes to watch); and a large, bowl-shaped piece of upholstered furniture by Yannick Pouliot.
The part of the museum that was open wasn't very large - I was able to get through the entire place in under two hours, and I typically spend a really long time in galleries & museums (I read everything and spend time contemplating each display - I usually need multiple day-long visits to any sizable exhibit in order to see it all.)
It would have been nice if there was more to see, but it didn't feel like it was too small or lacking in anyway. It was a really nice way to spend part of an afternoon.
The gift shop was nice and contained a lot of attractive and interesting things. -
Review from Amanda D.
Ottawa, ON
11/19/2008
Such an amazing art gallery. When I went, most of the exhibits were incredibly creative and some of them truly transformed the spaces they inhabited, which created an interactive and transfixing space for patrons. The curators seemed to take risks on the pieces they chose, although that's often true of many contemporary art galleries. They also usually have a film exhibit playing on a loop on their lower level next to the book store.
It's not a huge gallery, so it usually takes no more than two hours to see everything. The admission is $8 for adults and $4 for students. You can also buy a MAC card for $10 that will give you unlimited admission to the gallery for a year. Admission is also free on Wednesday from 6pm-9pm. That's basically the only night they stay open late. Closing time is usually 6pm. -
Review from Natalia J.
12/15/2008
One of my favorite museums. Too bad I need to take a plane to get there.
YK and AP, remember Yannick Pouliot's Baroque music room? -
Review from Ciao H.
10/16/2008
My first trip to this museum did not disappoint. I found the staff cordial and open to answering questions, the layout very open and carefully presented, and best of all, the works ranged from fearless to fanciful--in a word: inspiring.
I was struck by the risk that the curators took in their selection of exhibits. As I walked into the main hall I was greeted by an enormous plush two-headed creature, an amusing and racy criticism of local politics. I moved on to a stunning video exhibit of a debauched Ronald McDonald figure, drowning in a car filling with water. The contrast and connections between the two mediums and pieces bouncing in my head as I moved on.
As a native of Boston, I found many of the works provocative and rewarding in ways I think Boston ICA is, at times, lacking. Montreal's ICA is bold, forward-thinking, with a definite sense of humor paced throughout the exhibits, and an emphasis on public interaction with much of the artwork. Walking into a closed room, I was delighted to sing karaoke, seated comfortably among pillows as the main aria from Bizet's Carmen was sung in Mandarin on a television set. Such experiences of whimsy are instantly memorable. I highly recommend a visit a visit for those in the area. -
Review from Rev. Dr. Christopher J. G.
8/12/2009
This is a lovely art museum with a small sculpture garden and a really nice set of galleries. There were a pair of exhibits that were excellent: one on a Canadian artist whose name I failed to write down, and a second on photos of Chernobyl, post-Katrina New Orleans, Havana and Beruit. It was an awesome photography exhibit. There were also wonderful installations and video exhibits, including a series of slides featuring phrases projected on a screen of buttons. It was pretty awesome.
They had a great exhibit of music videos on the bottom floor, featuring a lovely series of traqcks from folks like Arcade Fire, Grip and Radiohead. It's an amazing set-up.
I'd say that the set-up was lovely, and the security group was actually nice and helpful. It's good stuff. -
Review from Rebecca L.
9/17/2008
Wow. I was there for the Triennial, which really really kicked the Whitney Biennial's ass. Majorly.
Because:
It was so nice to walk into a museum, see solid work---that really pushed boundaries and followed through with the artist's idea, that was spaced and presented in a manner that allowed one to breathe, take their time and properly access the work. This is something that rarely happens in NYC, so although I wasn't personally attached to some of the work, I was inspired and left feeling hopeful for contemporary artists.
I can't wait to come back and take advantage of the media center! -
Review from Laura E.
2/16/2011 4 photos
I didn't even get to go inside and I'm already sold. While walking about 5 blocks away, we could see these glowing orbs and had to check it out. MIND=BLOWN.
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Review from shannon w.
6/26/2009
This place is rather small, or it feels that way. The main gallery was dedicated to an Artist named Robin Goodwin, whose work was not particularly interesting to me, and whose exhibit was bogged down by long essays explaining the pieces.
Though, the rest of the galleries were a great surprise. Some were light hearted, and some were rather spooky. The curator has done a good job balancing the work they are showing. The space is very good, and it is super easy to find by Metro. If you are in town, definitely worth a look. -
Review from Wilson K.
9/29/2010
Once you figure out how to get in, you'll enjoy this interesting little exhibition space. True to its name, you'll find abstract squiggles and conceptual thingys, so go with playful friends who like to talk and ponder. My favorite thing there is the mediatheque on the third floor, which houses a large collection of art mags and all kinds of rare documentaries on artists and their work, plus there is a comfy sofa there where you can chill while you learn.
As other reviewers have noticed, the docents and curators were magnificently helpful and friendly; basically they'll talk your ear off, so come prepared to practice your French.
I always avoid museum restaurants if I can (I'm against being a captive audience), but this one tempted me with its interesting arrangement and location in the middle of the museum instead being of tucked away in a corner somewhere. I may come back for a bite.
Here's the coolest thing: there were so many young people there. I was wading through hipsters -- when's the last time that happened to you at a museum? Don't miss the downstairs theater, which often plays cool artsy films. -
Review from PC W.
8/6/2008
I've only been twice but this is one of my favorite contemporary art museums in the world. The space is magnificent and the artists they feature and the subject matter is often provocative. I saw Bruce Nauman's work here last May and it was fantastic.
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Review from Robert H.
Toronto, ON
10/30/2010 1 Check-in Here
Enjoyable, very open and large spaces. Good value and a worthwhile place to visit.
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Review from i d.
2/28/2009
If you go to Montreal and have a spare afternoon, go there, it's great, it's also an interesting way of exploring how the city grew and changed from being this religious catholic haven to being an angsty sometimes pretentious artsy place. It's great and rather peaceful and the architecture of the building is nice.
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