Jaker is one of the top graffiti writers in Montreal. His allegiances are to the BTH, SVC and GK crews. He has very little presence on the internet. This Bombing Science video on Youtube shows great footage of Jaker in action on an autorack.

Jaker est un des meilleurs graffeurs à Montréal. Il est membres des crews BTH, SVC et GK. Il n’est que très peu présent officiellement sur internet. Cette excellente video de Bombing Science montre l’artiste en action.

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burners and other big pieces

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.

BTH crew roof piece by Jake, Cast, Kwun, Peace and Asar.

In a private indoors prod.

Representing BTH in Ville Émard.

In Mile Ex.

BTH crew hit in Verdun by Jake, Cast, Peace, Drif, Asar, Fomer, Hyke, Johste and Legal.

BTH crew hit in Lasalle by Jake and Asar.

Huge BTH crew highwayside hit by Jake, Cast, Asar and Fomer.

Jake representing BTH on the crew wall for the 2025 edition of Mural Festival.

BTH crew piece by Cast, Jake, Kwun, Asar, Pito and Bilz for the 2025 edition of Mural Festival.

Jake, Cast and Asar downtown.

Jake and Cast in St-Henri.

BTH’s Jake, Cast, Asar and Kwun.

BTH crew in the South West by Jake, Peace and Kwun.

BTH crew roof piece by Jake, Asar, Legal and Drif.

Freight hit.

Jake, Drif, Kwun and Asar representing BTH in Ville St-Laurent.

On a downtown roof with Legal.

With Nor in Griffintown.

In Rosemont.

Trackside Outremont.

Jake, Kwun, Peace and Blek in Hochelaga.

On an abandoned building in Ville-Marie.

At Fattal.

In St-Michel.

In Centre-Sud.

BTH crew rooftop hit by Jake, Fomer, Asar and Drif.

In Hochelaga.

Off-Mural, for his crew BTH.

Off-Mural.

Off-Mural.

In Ville-Marie.

On a highwayside billboard in Villeray.

In Côte St-Paul for a Montana promotional video.

BTH rooftop in Little Burgundy by Jake, Drif and Asar.

In Verdun.

In Chinatown.

With Cast, Asar and Drif in NDG.

With Sapoe in industrial Old Montreal.

On Canal Lachine.

With Tricks on a South West roof.

On a busy street.

In Côte des Neiges.

In St-Henri.

Highwayside with Asar.

Highwayside with Asar.

In the South West.

Highwayside in Dorval.

With Kwun in the Plateau.

In the South West.

With Tricks in the South West.

Highwayside piece.

In Ville-Marie.

In Mile End.

In highwayland.

Highwayside piece.

The Art Gang wall for the 2023 edition of the Under Pressure Festival featuring Snipes and Senck, with guests Cemz, Timer and a huge piece by Jaker.

In the South West.

Jaker and Kwun on the front of DBC bar.

On a pillar of the Jacques-Cartier bridge.

Hanging trackside pieces by Sapo and Jaker.

In Pointe St-Charles.

In the South West.

BTH piece in the South West, by Jaker, Cast, Asar and Xray.

Off Mural Festival.

Off Mural Festival.

In the South West.

Tricks and Jaker in Pointe St-Charles.

In Montreal West.

With Legal, trackside.

In Rosemont.

With Legal by the water.

On an abandoned building.

Jaker and Cone representing SVC.

Between Cone and Oper in Ville St-Pierre.

Trackside.

Trackside.

In Old Montreal.

In Rosemont.

In central Montreal.

Writing the name of his crew BTH in the window of a closed gallery. Also visible around the window are tags by Peace, Jaker, Asar, Nesar, Heavy, Zion and Legal. Partially visible inside are throws by Peace (orange) and Kwun (green).

Dems, Asar and Jake on a Ville-Marie rooftop.

On a disused metro car.

Cone and Jaker in an underpass.

In a central Montreal park.

With Blek, trackside.

In Ville-Marie.

In the South West.

In the South West.

Jaker and Peace for their friend’s business. Jaker also did the middle character.

In the Plateau.

Jaker and Peace for their friend’s band Sudden Waves.

Jaker’s contribution to the 2022 graffiti jam in Lachine.

Train piece.

Train piece.

Train piece.

Inside an abandoned building in Lachine.

In the South West.

In the South West.

Jake and Kwun reppin’ BTH on a Plateau rooftop.

Jaker and Cone representing SVC.

Jaker, Peace and Drif doing the name of their crew BTH in the South West.

Jaker and Peace in Rosemont-Petite-Patrie.

In Mile End.

Jake and Cone representing SVC in the Plateau. Visible above is an older wheatpaste by Lovebot.

Inside an abandoned building.

Jaker’s part in a huge 4-man tumbling block-letters prod visible from highways in the South West.

Train piece.

In a Hochelaga alley.

A trackside roller.

Inside an abandoned building.

Double dose, including an extinguisher piece.

BTH crew piece by Jaker, Legal and Peace.

Train piece.

Train piece.

Train piece.

Train piece.

Train piece.

Train piece.

Train piece.

Train piece.

In Ahuntsic.

In Côte-des-Neiges.

Legal and Jaker doing the name of their crew BTH in the Plateau.

In an abandoned building.

In an abandoned tunnel.

In the West Island.

In an abandoned spot.

In Côte St-Paul.

On an abandoned building.

On an abandoned building.

At the Papineau legal graffiti wall.

In Hochelaga.

In Rosemont.

Jaker and Legal contributed to the 2019 revamp of the Van Horne pillars.

A huge trackside piece.

On an abandoned building.

With Jmoe on characters.

Trackside

In Côte St-Paul.

Jaker and Legal representing BTH on an abandoned building in the South West.

In Rosemont.

On an abandoned warehouse in Hochelaga.

At the Papineau legal graffiti wall.

In an abandoned spot.

In an abandoned spot.

Roller by Jaker and Legal in the South West.

By Jake, Hyke and Legal for their crew BTH.

Jaker and Legal representing BTH in Little Burdundy (ground piece only).

This detail of the Scan You Rock tribute wall to Scaner shows Jaker’s part. Click on the latter link to view the complete wall.

From a BTH crew production in Dorval.

Huge Jaker and Legal roller on an abandoned building in the South West.

At the Papineau legal graffiti wall.

On a parked train.

On a parked train.

On a parked train.

On a parked train.

On train.

On train.

On train.

On train.

Jaker, Legal, Peace and Johste on the abandoned Canada Malting plant.

A huge commissioned Centre-Sud wall by the BTH crew featuring Legal and Jaker on name pieces and Jmoe on character.

Jaker (top) and Legal (ground) for the 2017 Lachine graffiti jam.

Tribute to Jays by BTH’s Jaker, Peace and Legal, from the Time Is Gold production.

Jaker in Rosemont.

Legal (ground) and Jaker (above) for the Festival de Canes.

At the Papineau legal graffiti wall.

In Rosemont.

Featuring Jaker (top), Legal (middle) and Johste (ground), this is BTH’s contribution to the Scan You Rock jam.

Jaker, Quote and Legal on letters, with Jmoe on character, in industrial Ville St-Laurent.

Near downtown.

Trackside.

Representing his crew BTH on a truck side.

In Rosemont.

Truck side.

For the 2016 edition of the Amalgam Festival in Sherbrooke.

In the Plateau.

Trackside.

At the Lachine legal graffiti wall.

At the Papineau legal graffiti wall.

In an abandoned building.

In an abandoned building.

Jaker and perhaps others from the BTH crew on the roof of an abandoned building in the South West.

In the South West.

Jaker (letters) and Jmoe (character) in an abandoned building.

Jaker (top) and Kwun (ground) in a Petite-Patrie alley.

In an abandoned building.

In an bike underpass on the Canal Lachine.

Five Eight and Jake on the abandoned Canada Malting Plant.

On an abandoned building.

On an abandoned building.

Representing BTH inside an abandoned Plateau school awaiting demolition.

In an abandoned building.

Inside the abandoned Transco.

Inside the abandoned Transco.

Inside the abandoned Transco.

In the gym of an abandoned Plateau school awaiting demolition.

Jaker on letters and Jmoe on character, in Rosemont.

Aliss (card), Ms Teri (flower), Jaker, Blek and Legal on a downtown rooftop.

Jaker (top) and Legal (bottom) at the 2015 Lachine graffiti jam

Trackside.

Most of the BTH crew participated in this piece between the chimneys of an abandoned incinerator.

Jaker and Legal representing BTH in the Plateau.

Under an expressway.

In Hochelaga.

An old one in Montreal West.

Peace and Jaker on a bike trail in Petite-Patrie.

A springtime piece for the crew (Bring The Heat = BTH).

In industrial Ville St-Laurent.

Jake’s contribution to this wall from the 2013 edition of the Under Pressure Festival is partly visible in the bottom left corner. Also featuring Fonki (centre), Legal (top left), Dare (top right), etc.

Jaker, Kwun, Legal and many more on one of the roofs of the long-abandoned Canada Malting plant.

In industrial Hochelaga.

On train.

In Lachine.

An old piece inside an abandoned tunnel.

In an abandoned building.

In a disused underground tunnel.

In industrial Montreal West.

Reppin’ GK on the roof of the Canada Malting.

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throws

In Côte St-Paul.

Close-up on Jake’s throw on the tribute wall to Scaner at the 2024 edition of Mural Festival.

On an abandoned building.

In Verdun.

In Verdun.

In Chinatown.

In Petite-Patrie.

In a Plateau alley.

A giant throw in the South West.

In Rosemont.

In Rosemont.

In Mile End.

In Rosemont.

Jake, Asar and Kwun highwayside in Villeray.

Throws with Asar on canal Lachine.

In the South West.

In Mile End.

In the Quartier des Spectacles.

In Chinatown.

In Laval.

In Old Montreal.

Downtown.

In the industrial South West.

In the Plateau.

Jake and Legal on an abandoned industrial building.

With Legal in the South West.

With Cone.

In Verdun.

In the South West.

In the South West.

A huge throw in St-Henri.

Throws by Legal and Jaker in industrial Montreal.

In a Plateau alley.

With Legal on the left.

Inside the abandoned Transco.

Inside the abandoned Transco (with Snok on the left).

Inside the abandoned Transco.

Cone and Jake.

In a disused underground tunnel.

In a disused underground tunnel.

In a disused underground tunnel.

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tags

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installation

A woodup installed on the roof of an industrial building in the South West.

Lost Claws is a street artist into wheatpasting and painting. He has been active in the streets and alleys of Montreal since approximately June 2017. The artist wittily expresses his dark, pessimistic or sarcastic views on the world, life and relationships through various characters, some recurring (teeth, skeletons, Death) and some one-offs (often animals).

The artist is extremely prolific and I have been able to find only a fraction of his work before it got destroyed. You should therefore check out his Instagram page for a lot more work than what I am presenting in the gallery below.

Lost Claws est un artiste de rue adepte du collage ainsi que de pièces peintes. Il est actif dans les rues et ruelles de Montréal depuis approximativement juin 2017. A l’aide d’une panoplie de personnages, certain récurrents (dents, squelettes, la Mort) ou non (souvent des animaux), il exprime sa vision sombre, pessimiste ou sarcastique, du monde, de la vie et des relation humaines.

Cet artiste est extremement prolifique et je n’ai eu la chance de photographier qu’une fraction de son oeuvre avant qu’elle ne soit détruite. Vous êtes donc invités à jeter un coup d’oeil à sa page Instagram si vous voulez en voir beaucoup plus que ce que je suis en mesure de présenter dans la galerie ci-dessous.

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painted

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.

In the Plateau.

In the Plateau.

Inside an abandoned building.

Inside an abandoned building.

On a Mile End roof.

In a Mile End alley.

In a Plateau alley.

In Mile End.

In Mile-Ex.

In a Villeray alley.

Dre and Lost Claws in Mile Ex.

In a Plateau alley.

On an abandoned building in Ville-Marie.

On an abandoned church.

On an abandoned church.

Trackside in Montreal West.

On a downtown rooftop.

In the Plateau.

In Mile-Ex.

In Mile-Ex.

Inside an abandoned building.

Featuring letters by Evism, inside an abandoned warehouse.

Inside an abandoned building.

On a bridge pillar.

On a Mile End rooftop.

On the roof of a closed diner. Also visible in this shot are pieces by Flesh, Airod, Tsar and Gore at ground level.

On an abandoned school.

On a disused church.

In Pointe St-Charles.

In Rosemont.

With Evism in an abandoned building. Visible above is an older piece by Hob.

Under an overpass.

Trackside.

In an abandoned building.

In an abandoned building.

In Mile End.

On a Mile End rooftop.

On a St-Laurent rooftop.

In a Petite-Patrie alley.

On a container in Hochelaga.

In a Mile End alley.

In the Plateau.

On a St-Laurent roof.

On an abandoned church.

In Rosemont.

In an abandoned building.

In Plateau End.

In Rosemont.

In an abandoned building.

In an abandoned building.

In an abandoned building.

In the Plateau.

In the Plateau.

In the McGill ghetto.

In the Plateau.

Under a bridge.

Under a bridge.

Under a bridge.

In the Plateau.

In the Plateau.

In Montreal West.

On a Plateau rooftop.

“Go To Hell”, in Petite-Patrie.

At the Papineau legal graffiti wall.

In an abandoned industrial lot.

In an abandoned building.

In an abandoned building.

In an abandoned building.

Highwayside.

In an abandoned building.

In an abandoned building.

In an abandoned building.

In an abandoned building; next to letters by “Aleks”, above throws by Lyfer and Vandal.

In an abandoned location.

In an abandoned location.

In the Plateau.

In NDG.

On a Plateau/Rosemont construction site.

In industrial midtown.

On a Mile End rooftop.

Rooftop in the Plateau.

In Petite-Patrie.

On a Outremont rooftop.

In Montreal West.

In Rosemont.

In Mile End.

In the Plateau.

In Mile End.

On a Mile End rooftop.

In Parc-Ex.

On an overpass pillar in Ville St-Laurent.

In the Plateau.

“You think this is cold?”, on a Plateau ice rink’s temporary wall.

On a Mile End rooftop.

“Drink up!”, in Mile Ex.

“I’ll ge damned!”, on a Mile-Ex rooftop.

“Summer is almost over”. This collapsable sign was put up in the village in early August, not quite near the end of summer…

On a Mile End rooftop.

On a Mile End rooftop.

On a Mile End rooftop.

On a Mile End rooftop.

“Break a leg!”, in a Mile End skatepark.

“Put a skull on it!”, in Mile End.

In a Plateau alley.

In Outremont.

In Mile End.

In Mile End.

“Dirt don’t hurt”, in Mile End.

“There’s no surprises in hell”, in Little Italy.

“You’re not special”, retaliating against Worm after he did this huge chrome throw for his crew MG over Lost Claws’ huge “I feel so small” mouse wheatpaste (scroll up this gallery to view).

“You’re only young forever once”, in Mile End.

“Alone is all we were”, in Mile End.

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drawn / tag-like

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.

In a Plateau alley.

In a Plateau alley.

In a Plateau alley.

In Mile End.

On a park shed.

On a construction site.

In a Plateau alley.

In Little Italy.

In Little Italy.

In Little Italy.

In Mile End.

In Mile End.

In Petite-Patrie.

Alternating with Dré in Mile Ex.

In Mile Ex.

In a Petite-Patrie alley.

In a Petite-Patrie alley.

In a Petite-Patrie alley.

In a Plateau alley.

In a Plateau alley.

In a Plateau alley.

In the Quartier Latin.

In the Quartier Latin.

In Mile End.

In Montreal Est.

In St-Michel.

On St-Laurent.

Off-Mural.

Off-Mural.

Off-Mural.

In Petite-Patrie.

In the Plateau. The goggle eyes were likely put there by someone else.

In Ville-Marie.

In Little Italy.

In Petite-Patrie.

In Petite-Patrie.

In a Centre-Sud alley.

In Mile End.

In Little Italy.

In the Plateau.

In Ville-Marie.

In Mile End.

In Rosemont.

In the Plateau.

In a Mile End alley.

In an abandoned tunnel.

In a Mile End alley (between tags by Quidam and Seano).

In a Mile End alley.

In Pointe St-Charles.

In Chinatown.

In an abandoned building.

In an abandoned building.

In an abandoned building.

On a Plateau alley door.

On a Plateau alley door.

In the McGill ghetto.

Off-Mural 2020 (literally) street piece.

In the Plateau.

On a Plateau alley door.

“I’m fine”, in Petite-Patrie.

“I feel nothing”, in the Plateau.

In a central graffiti alley.

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wheatpastes and installations

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.

Highjacking a Christmas crib.

In the Plateau.

In the Plateau.

An installation, downtown.

A board installation in the Plateau.

“The cost of living”, an off-Mural wheatpaste.

This is a painted plywood installed on this Mile End roof.

“Doomed to rent”, in Little Italy.

“Why is life so hard?”, in the Plateau.

In the Plateau.

“You’re doing great”, on the front of an abandoned church.

Next to a peace flag for Ukraine.

“Live fast”, in Chinatown.

“R.I.P. optimism”, in Mile End.

“Dying to talk to you / K Bye”, a Ouija board spoof in the Plateau.

“I wasn’t. Then I was. Now I ain’t”, in the Plateau.

“Just killing time”, in the Plateau.

“I wish you the best”, in the Plateau.

“No one wants to be left behind”, in the Plateau.

“There must be more to life?”, in the Plateau.

“Everyone is swimming from something”, in the Plateau.

“I coulda been grate”, in the Plateau.

“R.I.P Hambone”, a tribute to his cat who had just passed away.

“I can’t even look at myself”, in Plateau End. The piece was put up on a mirror store, hence the pun.

“You are not special”, in the Plateau.

“Canned street art, just repeat and serve”, a dig at the piece by a different artist found next to it.

“I’ll give you anything you want”, on an abandoned Plateau church. See below for close-up.

“I’ll give you anything you want”, close-up on the above piece on a Plateau church.

“I don’t wanna talk about it”, in Mile End.

“My days are numbered”, in the Plateau.

“Stop signs suck”, on the front of a number of Bixi self-service bicycles.

“Cynicism isn’t wisdom”, in Mile End.

“Santé!”, in the Plateau.

“Spend some time in hell”, in Rosemont-Petite-Patrie.

“I feel uncomfortable”, in Villeray.

“Six feet away”, in the Plateau during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Life is pain”, in Petite-Patrie.

“You get used to it”, in Petite-Patrie during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We can’t all be blessed”, in the Plateau.

“Up to your old tricks?”, in Mile End. See in context below.

“Up to your old tricks?”, in Mile End at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“You ain’t shit”, in Mile End.

“It’s hard to stay positive”, in Mile End.

“Anywhere can be home”, in Petite-Patrie.

“Tomorrow’s happiness today!”, in Mile End.

“I miss the old Kanye”, in the Plateau.

“Everything will be fine. Or not. WTF do I know?”, in the Plateau.

“Pretending to be something I’m not”, in Plateau End for Halloween.

“Don’t fuck with me I don’t fuck with you”, in Plateau End.

“Dust to dust”, in Chinatown.

“Get your shit together”, in the Plateau.

“Go to hell”, at Marché Jean-Talon.

“My stupid opinion”, in Petite-Patrie.

“That’s life”, in St-Henri.

“Ewe suck”, in Plateau End.

“I don’t wanna pray”, in Mile End.

“We’ll never be those kids again”, in the Plateau.

“Memories are like onions… I don’t like onions”, in the Plateau.

“You can be so cold”, an off-Mural piece.

“Happiness is temporary”, in the Plateau.

“I believe it’s faith I lack”, in the Plateau. See below for a close-up

Close-up of the above Plateau piece.

“I won’t remember you”, in the Plateau.

In the Plateau.

“Are we having fun yet?”, in Petite-Patrie.

“Everything is cool”, in the Plateau.

“Trapped in my head”, in Mile End.

“Love is not enough”, in Mile End for Valentine’s Day.

“How you act is who you become”, in the Plateau.

“Nothing comes back”, in the Village.

“There’s no surprises in hell”, in Mile End.

“Empty together”, in the Plateau.

“I am my father’s son”, in the Quartier des Spectacles.

“What am I doing with my life?”, in the Quartier des Spectacles.

“I feel so small”, a big wheatpaste on the George General d’Auto Reparation.

“Pas d’sucre, pas d’crème”, as Death likes its coffee black, what did you expect? Found in the Plateau.

“D.T.F”, apparently standing for “donairs taste fantastic”… This was found in the Plateau.

This one was captioned “If it’s not on Instagram, did it even happen?”, but the caption was lost before I got a chance to photograph this piece found in Mile End.

“LOL”, in the Plateau.

In the Plateau.

“Everybody else is an asshole”, in the Plateau.

“Give me darkness”, in Mile End.

“It gets easier”, in the Plateau.

“Just give me what I want”, in the Plateau.

“No one mourns the last to die”, in Mile End.

“My life is a mess”, in Little Italy.

“We really are alone aren’t we?”, in the Plateau.

“You’ll never see yourself like I see you”, in Mile End.

“The vague positive quote you needed”, in Mile End.

“Hot as heck”, in Mile End.

“Just fuckin’ super”, in Little Italy.

“Worth ≠ worth”, off Mural Festival.

“What’s it like being cool?”, on St-Laurent.

“It’s so cheesy”, in a conversation with Sara Erenthal.

“Only hard things break”, in the Quartier des Spectacles.

“Life sucks”, in the Quartier des Spectacles.

“The magic’s gone”, in the Plateau.

“You’re not special”, off St-Laurent.

“Time passes always has always will”, in Little Italy.

“Nothing ever changes” / “Everything is changing”, in Petite-Patrie.

“Share the burden”, in Mile End.

“Living quickly, dying slowly”, in Mile End.

“I’m familiar with the cold”, in Plateau End.

“We only hurt the ones we love”, in the Plateau.

“Same in the end”, in the Plateau.

“The loss of friends you never had”, in Mile End.

“We were never meant to stay”, in Mile End.

“New and interesting rock bottoms”, in St-Henri.

“Everybody leaves too soon”, pasted in the Plateau beneath one of Scaner‘s iconic characters, presumably as a tribute after the latter writer passed away.

“It’s only worth what you’re willing to lose”, in Petite-Patrie.

“We change”, in the Plateau.

“Life of the party”, in Mile End.

“Let the rain fall”, in the Plateau.

“We always know what’s right”, in Mile End.

“There’s plenty…”, in Mile End.

“No one is listening”, in the McGill Ghetto.

“Don’t wait too long to come home”, in Mile End.

“Nobody cares what you did, right?”, in Mile End.

“There is nothing we can keep”, in Plateau End.

“Remember to forget”, in Mile End.

“How you act is who you become”, in Mile End.

In the Plateau.

“I only loved you with my head anyways”, in the Plateau. The sticker above is by Ella & Pitr.

“Free to a good home”, in Mile End.

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stickers

Collaboration with ROC514.

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tags

Benny Wilding aka Cemz aka Ether is the ultimate urban artist, having started off as a graffiti writer and then evolved into becoming one of Montreal’s great muralists. He started in 1997 writing ‘Cemz’ and quickly earned the respect of his peers. Around 2004 he switched to writing ‘Ether’ and kept that name for a bit more than a decade. Over 2016, as his career as a muralist started growing significantly, he reverted back to ‘Cemz’ and this is his regular writing name nowadays. His main allegiance over the years has been with the crew TFB, but he’s also in DA, TFO and more recently KG (to name a few), crews that include many of our city’s best writers.

His murals and other figurative pieces are usually mash-ups of various pop-art vintage elements: cartoons, old logos, commercial lettering and other nostalgia-tinged iconography inspired by old ads and catalogues. Most interestingly, they also often include his name-piece, creating a contrast between that warm nostalgia and his wildstyle street side.

To learn more about Benny Wilding, have a look at this great 2018 interview by Mural Festival. To view more than I was able to photograph, and to see his work outside Montreal as well as his studio work, check out BennyWilding.com and follow him on Instagram. Finally, there’s a short bio and photos of work he has done for Ashop in this Ashop bio.

Benny Wilding / Cemz / Ether est le parfait artiste urbain, ayant débuté comme graffeur puis graduellement fait son chemin pour devenir un des grands muralistes de Montréal. Il a débuté en 1997 sous le nom ‘Cemz’ et a rapidement gagné le respect de ses pairs. Aux environs de 2004 il a commencé à écrire ‘Ether’ et a conservé ce nom pour une douzaine d’années. Au cours de l’année 2016, alors que sa carrière de muraliste prenait de l’essor, il a repris le nom ‘Cemz’ et c’est ce nom qu’il utilise de nos jours pour ses pièces de graffiti. Sa principale affiliation au fil des années a été avec le crew TFB, mais il fait aussi partie de DA, TFO et plus récemment KG (pour n’en nommer que quelques uns), des crews incluant plusieurs des meilleurs graffeurs de Montréal.

Ses murales et autres pièces figuratives combinent généralement divers éléments pop-art vintages tels que des personnages de bandes dessinées, des logos, du graphisme commercial ainsi que des personnage ou objets tirés de vieilles pubs ou de vieux catalogues. Fait intéressant, ses grandes créations incluent aussi son nom en plein milieu, mettant ainsi en contraste le coté nostalgique et réconfortant de l’iconographie vintage avec la modernité de son graffiti wildstyle.

Pour en apprendre plus sur Benny Wilding, vous êtes invités à lire cette entrevue pour Festival Mural datant de 2018. Pour voir plus que ce que j’ai eu la chance de photographier, particulièrement ses oeuvres hors-Montréal ainsi que son travail en studio, jetez un coup d’oeil à BennyWilding.com et suivez-le sur Instagram. Enfin, une courte biographie et des photos de son travail pour Ashop se trouvent sur le site d’Ashop.

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Benny Wilding

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.

In St-Henri.

For the 2023 edition of Mural Festival.

Section 1/4 of commissioned work at Parc Jean-Drapeau.

Section 2/4 of commissioned work at Parc Jean-Drapeau.

Section 3/4 of commissioned work at Parc Jean-Drapeau.

Section 4/4 of commissioned work at Parc Jean-Drapeau.

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

In Petite-Patrie.

This is the left half of a long wall in Rosemont with the 1976 Montreal Olympics as a theme.

This is the right half of a long wall in Rosemont with the 1976 Montreal Olympics as a theme.

This tribute to local Formula One driver Gilles Villeneuve in Chinatown incorporates a Cemz letter piece.

Benny Wilding’s segment on a long tribute to Scaner also involving Zek and Stare (not visible in this shot). The wall also includes a Cemz letter piece, scroll down to view.

Tribute to Scaner by Sober, Benny Wilding, Mersh, Tyke and Sage at the 2017 edition of the Lachine graffiti jam.

Ankh One and Benny Wilding collaboration in Verdun. The white dots are actually raised from the wall and spell out “multiculturel” in Braille language.

This mural is found downtown.

This nostalgia mural at Plaza St-Hubert incorporates a Cemz letter piece.

One of Benny Wilding’s characters on a Scaner & Cemz alley wall which also features a Cemz letter piece featured in the next section, scroll down to view.

One more of Benny Wilding’s characters on a Scaner & Cemz alley wall which also features a Cemz letter piece featured in the next section, scroll down to view.

One more of Benny Wilding’s characters on a Scaner & Cemz alley wall which also features a Cemz letter piece featured in the next section, scroll down to view.

Benny Wilding / Cemz at Plaza Walls.

A green alley piece for Ashop in Hochelaga (1/3).

A green alley piece for Ashop in Hochelaga (2/3).

A green alley piece for Ashop in Hochelaga (3/3).

This Ashop mural was designed by Fluke and executed by Zek and Benny Wilding.

Ether / Benny Wilding in Petite-Patrie.

This is Benny Wilding’s contribution to the 2015 edition of Mural Festival. It includes a Ether letter piece.

This long wall in the Plateau is a collaboration with Hsix on the three Gilles Duceppe characters.

Trackside wall for Ashop under the name Cems.

Benny Wilding as Ether for the Cabane à sucre secret gallery.

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Cemz

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.

In Little Burgundy.

In graffiti alley.

On the Art Gang wall for the 2023 edition of the Under Pressure Festival.

In St-Henri.

For Breaking Walls / Meeting Of Styles.

Zek and Cemz at the TFO 40th prod in Côte St-Paul.

At Duff Court.

In Mile End.

Senck and Snipes for the 2021 edition of the Under Pressure Festival, featuring Cemz at ground level.

In the Plateau.

In Ahuntsic.

In Ville St-Laurent.

In Rosemont.

In Ahuntsic.

In the Plateau.

In the Plateau.

For the 2020 edition of the Under Pressure Festival.

In Hochelaga.

In Hochelaga.

In the Plateau.

In a Rosemont alley.

In the Plateau.

In the East.

In the Plateau.

In Mile End.

In Côte des Neiges.

In a Petite-Patrie alley.

In the Plateau.

This detail of the Scan You Rock tribute wall to Scaner shows Cemz’s part. Click on the latter link to view the complete wall.

The Boro wall for the 2018 edition of the Under Pressure Festival featuring Cemz (top letters), Esprit (left half) and Sight (bottom right letters).

Cemz in the Plateau.

On Ashop‘s wall in Hochelaga.

This is Cemz’s letter piece on a long tribute wall to Scaner also involving Zek and Stare (not shown here). The wall also features a figurative segment, scroll up to the Benny Wilding section above to view.

Cemz on letters and Axe Lalime on shark, in Hochelaga.

Cemz’s piece for the Time Is Gold production, Scaner‘s final one.

In Côte des Neiges.

On a Hochelaga metal shutter.

At Plaza Walls.

On Ashop‘s wall in Hochelaga.

Cemz’s half of a long alley wall with Scaner. Close-ups on the 2 characters as well as a third one not seen in this shot are featured in the Benny Wilding section above.

Cemz (top) and Smak (ground level) contribution to the Scan You Rock jam.

For Ashop‘s Chemin Vert block party.

Five Eight (top), Skor (middle) and Cemz (bottom) with a bit of help from Earth Crusher, for the 2016 edition of the Under Pressure Festival.

On Ashop‘s wall in Hochelaga.

In a Mile End alley. A time lapse video of the making of this wall can be viewed here.

At the PSC legal graffiti wall.

Highway side piece.

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Ether

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.

Earth Crusher and Ether on the side wall of a Plateau restaurant.

An off-Mural alley piece from 2016.

This mural in a central graffiti alley features Waxhead (left), Ether (central letter piece) and Turtle Caps (right).

Truck side.

The Boro wall for the 2014 edition of the Under Pressure Festival features Ether (top left), Mersh (top right) and Shok (bottom).

In Hochelaga.

From the 2013 edition of the Under Pressure Festival, Ether (middle letters), Scaner (bottom letters), Axe Lalime (bottom left), Serak (top letters) and Hsix (right).

A graffiti alley piece.

Ether (top) and Scaner (bottom), from a long Plateau wall involving more artists.

Detail of a Plateau wall which would be eventually be redone entirely by the artist for the 2015 edition of Mural Festival (scroll up to the Benny Wilding section above to view).

Ether’s part in a long multi-artist wall in a Plateau alley.

Ether’s part in a long multi-artist wall in Ville-Marie.

Cems, before he switched to Ether (top left), Scan (top right), Sage (bottom left) and Smak (bottom right) on this classic DA wall in Rosemont.

From 2003 in Parc Ex, damaged but still standing.

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throws

Great spot in Chinatown.

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tags

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stickers and wheatpastes

These 3 different wheatpastes were also found separately.

Ether and Scaner wheatpastes.

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other pasted work

In Petite-Patrie.

A mock business sign in the Plateau.

A fake sign in Centre-Sud.

A wood-up found in the Plateau.

A wood-up found in the Plateau. Also visible in this shot are a wood-up by Flavor and a Lego piece by Shifty Cat.

A wood-up found in the Plateau.

Mock storefront sign in Mile End.

Mock storefront sign in the Plateau.

A wood-up in Plateau End.

Mock storefront sign in the Plateau.

Mock storefront sign in the Plateau.

Mock storefront sign on St-Laurent.

A wood sign on St-Laurent.

Mock-sign in the Plateau.

In Mile End.

Off the 2019 edition of Under Pressure.

Off the 2019 edition of Under Pressure.

A pasted montage of Benny Wilding patterns and figurative elements, found in a Mile End alley.

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other painted work

A tribute to Scan, Jays and Dock at Duff Court.

This sign for the closed Waldman fish market was hijacked by Benny who painted over a few letters to turn it into ‘Wilding’.