Where to Find an Art Store in Montreal: A Guide for Art Lovers

Montreal is one of Canada's most interesting cities for discovering art. From the historic streets of Old Montreal to the galleries of the Plateau and contemporary spaces farther west, there are plenty of places to see and buy artwork.

The city offers something for different tastes and budgets. You can find original paintings, contemporary works, photography, sculpture, prints, Indigenous art, and decorative pieces.

If you are searching for an art store Montreal visitors and residents can explore, it helps to know what each type of gallery offers before you start your search.

1. L'Original

For shoppers interested in original artwork and contemporary street art, L'Original is one option to explore in Montreal.

The gallery has locations in both Old Montreal and the Plateau Mont-Royal. Visitors can see artwork in person, compare different formats and styles, and explore original pieces from artists. The Plateau location also includes studios where visitors can see artists working.

The Old Montreal gallery is located on Saint-Paul Street, an area already known for its concentration of galleries and art-related businesses.

For someone who prefers to see artwork in person before buying, visiting a physical gallery can make it easier to judge the actual size, colours, and texture of a piece.

2. Galerie Bloom

Located on Saint-Paul Street in Old Montreal, Galerie Bloom focuses on contemporary Canadian art.

Its collection includes original works across categories such as abstract, landscape, figurative, animal, people, and city-themed artwork. The gallery also offers an online collection, making it possible to browse artwork before visiting.

Its Old Montreal location makes it convenient to include in a gallery walk. You can visit several galleries in the same area rather than travelling across the city for every stop.

3. Art Mûr

For visitors interested in contemporary art, Art Mûr is another Montreal gallery worth exploring.

The gallery is located in the Rosemont area and presents artists at different stages of their careers. Tourisme Montréal includes Art Mûr among the city's contemporary commercial galleries and describes its program as ranging from early-career artists to established Canadian artists.

This makes it particularly interesting for people who want to discover contemporary artists rather than focus only on traditional or historical artwork.

4. Arsenal Contemporary Art

Located in Griffintown, Arsenal Contemporary Art is another major destination for contemporary art in Montreal.

The space is considerably different from a small boutique-style gallery. Its larger exhibition environment makes it useful for visitors who want to experience contemporary art in a more expansive setting.

Griffintown and the surrounding area have become an important part of Montreal's contemporary art scene, with several galleries and cultural spaces located nearby. Tourisme Montréal includes Arsenal among the city's places to explore contemporary art.

5. La Guilde

If your interests extend beyond contemporary paintings, La Guilde offers a different perspective on Canadian art.

Located on Sherbrooke Street West, the gallery focuses on Inuit, First Nations, and Métis art, as well as crafts and jewellery. Its collection provides an opportunity to discover Indigenous artists and artistic traditions within a gallery setting.

Tourisme Montréal also recommends La Guilde for visitors interested in historical and contemporary Inuit and First Nations art.

6. Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Although it is primarily a museum rather than an art store, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is worth including in an art-focused visit to the city.

Its collections cover a broad range of periods and artistic disciplines. The museum also has a boutique where visitors can find art-related products and design items.

For someone who is still figuring out what type of artwork they like, spending time in a museum can be useful before making a purchase. Seeing different periods, styles, and mediums can help narrow down personal preferences.

7. Museum and Cultural Boutiques

Art shopping in Montreal is not limited to commercial galleries.

The city's museum boutiques can be useful for people looking for prints, books, reproductions, design objects, and locally inspired gifts. Tourisme Montréal specifically highlights boutiques at institutions such as the McCord Stewart Museum, Pointe-à-Callière, and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts as places to find art and history-related items.

These options can work particularly well if you want something connected to Montreal's history without necessarily purchasing an original painting.

Where Should You Start?

The best place to start depends on what you want to buy.

If you are interested in original contemporary artwork, commercial galleries such as L'Original, Galerie Bloom, and Art Mûr are worth exploring.

If you want to see larger contemporary exhibitions, Arsenal Contemporary Art offers a different experience.

For Inuit, First Nations, and Métis art, La Guilde provides a more specialized collection.

And if you are looking for prints, books, or art-related gifts, museum boutiques offer another option.

Montreal's official tourism organization describes the city as having a mix of contemporary galleries, artist-run spaces, museum boutiques, and design-oriented shops, so there is no single neighbourhood or type of venue that covers everything.

Explore More Than One Gallery

One of the advantages of buying art in Montreal is that you can compare different galleries before making a decision.

Start in Old Montreal if you want to visit several galleries within a relatively walkable area. Saint-Paul Street has a number of art-related destinations, including Galerie Bloom and L'Original.

You can then explore other parts of the city if you want a wider range of contemporary art.

Seeing different galleries also helps you understand what you actually like. You may start looking for an abstract painting and discover that you prefer figurative work. Or you may find that smaller pieces suit your home better than large statement paintings.

What to Consider Before Buying Artwork

Once you find a piece you like, take a few practical factors into account.

Size: Measure the wall where the artwork will hang. A piece can look very different in a gallery from how it will look above a sofa or on a smaller wall.

Colour: Think about the colours already present in the room. Artwork does not need to match the décor exactly, but the relationship between the colours can affect the overall appearance.

Medium: Paintings, photographs, prints, and mixed-media pieces have different visual qualities and framing requirements.

Frame: If the artwork is framed, consider whether the frame complements both the piece and the room.

Budget: Set a comfortable spending range before you begin shopping. This can make the process easier and help you focus on pieces that fit your plans.

Buying Art Online or In Person

Both approaches have advantages.

Shopping online allows you to compare artists, styles, dimensions, and prices without travelling between galleries. It can be a useful first step when you already have a clear idea of what you want.

Visiting a gallery gives you a better sense of scale and texture. You can see the actual colours rather than relying entirely on photographs.

For an original painting, that difference can matter.

A practical approach is to browse online first and create a shortlist. Then visit galleries when possible to see the artwork in person before making a final decision.

Make Your Montreal Art Search More Personal

There is no need to rush when buying art.

Take time to visit different galleries and look at work from several artists. Pay attention to the pieces that continue to catch your attention rather than choosing something simply because it matches a particular room.

Montreal makes that process relatively easy because its art scene covers a wide range of styles and locations.

Whether you are searching for a first original painting, a piece by a local artist, Indigenous artwork, or something simply to bring more personality to your home, exploring several galleries can help you make a more informed choice.

For art lovers, the search itself can be part of the experience. A walk through Montreal's galleries can introduce you to artists and styles you may never have encountered by shopping from a single collection online.