Zek

Zek is an institution in both the Montreal graffiti and street art scenes. He started doing graffiti in 1993 and eventually moved on to figurative art. Being decicated to his work and immensely talented in both art forms, he gradually forged his way into the Montreal urban art hall of fame, respected by his fellow writers for his style and loved by fans of street art for the photorealism of his figurative work.

Zek is one of the few writers/artists of his generation still very active. It is no surprise that he has helped shape and define the Montreal scene, having been cited as an influence by so many writers and artists who came after him. He is very involved with Ashop, not just as an artist but also as a project supervisor. He also collaborates with other artists on multi-writer graffiti murals and does a lot of solo work as well.

For more on this internationally renowned Montreal pillar, check out Zek’s Instagram. His collaborative work with other Ashop artists can be seen on the Ashop webpage.

Zek est une institution des scènes de graffiti et de street art à Montréal. Il a découvert le graffiti en 1993 et ceci l’a éventuellement mené à l’art mural figuratif. Grâce à son talent et sa persévérance il a graduellement pris sa place au temple de la renommée de l’art urbain montréalais. Il est respecté par ses pairs du milieu du graffiti pour son style, et admiré des amateurs de street art pour le photoréalisme de son art figuratif.

Zek est un des quelques artistes de sa génération qui sont toujours actifs. Ayant été cité comme une influence par de nombreux graffeurs qui l’ont suivi, il a contribué à façonner la scène et le style montréalais. Il fait partie du collectif Ashop, non seulement en tant qu’artiste mais aussi comme directeur de projets. Il collabore souvent à des murales multi-artistes et travaille aussi à l’occasion en solo.

Pour plus d’information sur ce pilier montréalais de réputation internationale, vous êtes invités à jeter un coup d’oeil à sa page Instagram. Ses collaborations avec le collectif Ashop se trouvent dans les galleries-photos du site web d’Ashop.


figurative work, solo

This Tyxna wall on a Cote des Neiges arena is signed by Zek in solo.

In Ville-Marie.

In a NDG park for the 2020 edition of Hip Hop You Don’t Stop.

A mural in Ville Emard.

In a park in Ville St-Laurent. Only one side shown here, scroll down for more.

In a park in Ville St-Laurent. Only two sides shown here, scroll down for more.

In a park in Ville St-Laurent. Scroll up and down for more.

In a park in Ville St-Laurent. Scroll up and down for more.

In a park in Ville St-Laurent. Only one side shown here, scroll up for more.

In Monkland village.

Beautiful piece in Monkland village.

Figurative/letter mix in Montreal West.

Another figurative/letter combo, this one downtown.

Zek’s half of a wall also featuring Hsix (not pictured) in Montreal West.

On one of the pillars of the Van Horne|Rosemont overpass.

In a Plateau back alley.

In Montreal West.

This one of three trackside murals in NDG by Ashop was done by Zek.

For Ashop in Rosemont, 2012.


figurative work, with collaborators

Tyxna‘s mural for the 2023 edition of Mural Festival featuring Zek, Dodo Osé, Ankh One and Fius, with assistance from Haks, Arpi and Nick Sweetman.

By the Tyxna collective featuring Zek, Dodo Osé, Ankh One and Fuser.

Inside the telecom dishes on the roof of Radio-Canada, with Benny Wilding.

This mural on the wall of a Côte des Neiges arena is by Tyxna’s Zek and Ankh One with the help of Haks and Deep.

Tribute to Maurice Richard in Ahuntsic by the Tyxna collective featuring Zek, Dodo Osé, Ankh One and Fuser.

Tyxna‘s contribution to the 2022 edition of Mural Festival, featuring Zek, Dodo Osé, Ankh One and Fuser, with help from Haks.

Tyxna mural downtown featuring Zek, Dodo Osé, Ankh One and Fuser.

Dodo Osé, Zek, Ankh One and Haks in Ville Emard.

This iconic and internationally renowned Montreal mural by Ashop features Fluke, Axe, Phile, Zek and Dodo Osé.

Ashop‘s contribution to the 2013 edition of Mural Festival features Axe, Zek, Apashe and Fluke.

A large collaboration with Peru143 on colour letters as well as Deep, in NDG.

Ashop‘s long wall, by Fluke, Zek, Dodo Osé and Ankh One, at Wynwood Walls for the 2018 edition of Art Basel. See below for close-up.

Close-up on Ashop‘s long wall, by Fluke, Zek, Dodo Osé and Ankh One, at Wynwood Walls for the 2018 edition of Art Basel.

Ashop mural in the Plateau featuring Dodo Osé, Phile, Zek and Fluke.

Tribute mural to Bad News Brown by Ashop featuring Saer, Fluke and Zek.

Ashop mural in Hochelaga featuring Zek and Dodo Osé.

Ashop mural in Côte des Neiges featuring Dré, Dodo Osé and Zek.

Zek and Dodo Osé for Ashop in Ahuntsic.

This Ashop mural for the Mercier library features Zek, Dodo Osé and Ankh One. Photo © Ashop.

This Ashop wall on a Verdun high school was designed and created by Zek, with Monk.e as an assistant.

This Trife Life / Dfek garage door features Zek.

Ashop mural designed by Fluke and done by Zek and Benny Wilding.

Zek, Simo, Fuser and Swarm in the Plateau.

Zek and Fleo in NDG, detail 1/7.

Zek and Fleo in NDG, detail 2/7.

Zek and Fleo in NDG, detail 3/7.

Zek and Fleo in NDG, detail 4/7.

Zek and Fleo in NDG, detail 5/7.

Zek and Fleo in NDG, detail 6/7.

Zek and Fleo in NDG, detail 7/7.

Zek and Hsix in NDG, complete wall. See details below.

Detail #1 of the Zek and Hsix wall in NDG shown above.

Detail #2 of the Zek and Hsix wall in NDG shown above.

Long wall in Hochelaga for Ashop, with Monk.e as an assistant. See below for 2 close-ups.

Close-up 1/2 of the long Hochelaga wall above.

Close-up 2/2 of the long Hochelaga wall above.

Zek, Dodo Osé, Ankh One for the 2016 edition of Art Basel in Wynwood, Miami (1/2).

Zek, Dodo Osé, Ankh One for the 2016 edition of Art Basel in Wynwood, Miami (2/2).

Rouks on main characters, with Zek on background, for Ashop. This was done for a family get together, and the people who attended filled in the silhouette figures at the bottom with their own art.

A collaboration with Striker in St-Michel, presumably from the early 2000s.


other

These temporary fences put up in the Quartier des spectacles during the 2015-2016 winter were designed by Zek. The work appears to have been drawn by computer then transfered onto the thick vinyl from which the fences were made.

Ces clôtures temporaires, apparues dans le Quartier des spectacles au cours de l’hiver 2015-2016, ont été dessinées par Zek. Elles ont probablement été conçues par ordinateur avant d’être imprimées sur vinyle.


letters

Pieces in this section are shown in approximate reverse chronological order, so the most recent are at the top.

Les pièces de cette section de la galerie sont présentées en ordre chronologique inverse approximatif, de la plus récente à la plus vieille.

At the Papineau legal graffiti wall.

At the PSC legal graffiti wall.

Zek letters on a Tyxna collective wall in Hochelaga.

Zek’s contribution to Breaking Walls / Meeting Of Styles.

With Cemz at TFO’s 40th prod in Côte St-Paul.

In Côte St-Paul.

In St-Henri.

For the 2021 edition of the graffiti jam in Lachine.

On the Plaza.

In the Plateau.

Here’s a quick one for Mel at the Rouen legal graffiti tunnel.

Zek’s contribution to the 2020 edition of the Under Pressure Festival. This was done on that edition’s wall bringing together many older legends of Montreal graffiti.

On a K6A crew wall in Ville-Marie.

In Hochelaga.

In a Rosemont alley.

In the Plateau.

Under a bridge.

In Rosemont.

In Rosemont.

In Rosemont.

Zek guesting on the K6A crew wall for the 2019 edition of the Under Pressure Festival.

On a multi-artist wall in Hochelaga.

Contribution to the tribute wall to Scan done for the 2019 edition of Mural Festival.

In Côte St-Paul.

In Wynwood, Miami, during the 2018 edition of Art Basel.

In Wynwood, Miami, during the 2018 edition of Art Basel.

In Hochelaga.

From a K6A and friends production in St-Henri.

This detail of the Scan You Rock tribute wall to Scaner shows Zek’s part. Click on the latter link to view the complete wall which was actually drawn by Zek.

For the Surfaces outside artshow.

In Hochelaga.

In upper Plateau.

In Hochelaga; this piece was designed by Geser.

From a long tribute wall to Scaner also involving Stare and Benny Wilding.

From the same long tribute wall to Scaner as above, this is Stare and Zek doing Scan’s name.

Zek’s part in the Time Is Gold production.

In a Plateau alley.

For a block party in Mile End.

From a K6A and friends production in St-Henri.

With Axe, Awe and Dodo Osé in St-Henri.

From the Scan You Rock mega-jam in the South West.

In upper Plateau.

At the PSC legal graffiti wall.

Zek’s final piece of 2016, at the Rouen legal graffiti tunnel.

Zek (central letters and background), Shadow (bottom letters), Monk.e (left) and Ankh One (right) on the Ashop wall in Hochelaga.

From a Hochelaga production also featuring Trace and Monk.e (not in photo).

At the abandoned Montreal Hippodrome.

On truck side for the 2016 edition of Hip Hop You Don’t Stop. The back is by Zek with Shadow who did the opposite side of this truck.

From Ashop‘s Chemin Vert block party in Mile-End.

The 123Klan contribution to the 2016 edition of the Under Pressure Festival features guests Mark Esprit (top left) and Zek (top right).

With Fluke on the right at Plaza Walls.

On Ashop‘s wall in Hochelaga.

In Rosemont.

At the PSC legal graffiti wall.

At the Papineau legal graffiti wall.

Zek from a Hochelaga production also featuring Tchug (right) and Stare (not in photo).

Zek’s part in a 123Klan production in Plateau End.

In an alley prior to the 2016 edition of Mural Festival.

In Rosemont.

On Ashop‘s wall in Hochelaga.

Zek letters at the bottom of a Plateau mural by Hsix.

On the roof of the abandoned Transco.

At the legal graffiti tunnel on de Rouen. Also visible above is Aces.

At the legal graffiti tunnel on de Rouen (ground level).

On a park’s garbage bin.

Doing Ashop‘s name on a park’s garbage bin.

On a Plaza St-Hubert roof.

In a Plateau alley.

Zek letters in the middle of a mural also featuring Mark Esprit, Hsix, Dcae and Dekor for the 2015 edition of the Under Pressure Festival.

In the Plateau.

In a Rosemont alley.

Zek’s part in a 123Klan / Ashop wall in the Plateau.

At the legal graffiti tunnel on de Rouen.

Ashop wall in Hochelaga featuring Shadow (top letters), Zek (bottom left), Fluke (bottom right) and Ankh One (figurative material).

Cat by Axe between letters by Zek (left) and Scaner (right) in Centre-Sud.

Near TMR.

In Pointe St-Charles.

In Pointe St-Charles.

Zek on letters and Tchug on creature in this segment of a Plateau wall also featuring Stare (not pictured here).

This segment of a KG wall in Hochelaga shows Zek on the left and Stare (doing KG) on the right.

Part of a wall in Centre-Sud also featuring Stare and Tchug (not pictured).

In Centre-Sud.

Serak (left) and Zek (right) in Griffintown. I unfortunately photographed this wall only after someone blackened the character’s face.

On truck side.

Opposite side to the above, also presumably by Zek.

In Montreal West.

In Montreal West.

On a multi-artist Plateau wall.

In Monkland Village.

Near TMR.

Maniak (top left), Zek (bottom left), Axe and Fluke for K6A and Ashop (right), at the Cabot x Gilmore walls.

Detail of a multi-artist wall in NDG.

Zek (ground bottom left) and Earth Crusher (ground bottom right) at the legal graffiti tunnel on de Rouen.

Zek (left letters) and Hsix in Hochelaga.

Zek (left letters) and Hsix in NDG.

In an abandoned building in Dorval

Detail of an old wall in NDG.

Detail of an old wall in the Plateau.

In Monkland Village.

Zek, Stack and Dfek in the Plateau.

Stack (top) and Zek (right) in the Plateau.

Detail of an old NDG wall.

Scaner and Zek on a Décarie rooftop.

On trackside rooftop in Rosemont/Hochelaga.

In the alley between St-Laurent and Clark.

Detail of a AG Crew / 123 Klan graffiti wall in NDG / Cote des Neiges.

Detail of a very old multi-artist wall in Lachine.

An old wall in the Plateau, in collaboration with Dfek.

Detail of an old multi-artist mural in the Plateau.

Detail of a long mural in Centre-Sud.

Detail of a multi-artist mural in Hochelaga.

Zek (letters) and Striker (figurative) on a Hochelaga garage door.

In Hochelaga.

In Ville St-Michel.


throws and tags

Wall of flops from the Time Is Gold production featuring Zek amongst many others (in black and yellow, third from from the top, first from the left).


stickers

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