This image gallery brings together 100 great murals and other painted street art pieces from 2020. It is not necessarily the best of the year because taste is a subjective thing and I was obviously not able to photograph everything. The selection was done partly from my own personal favourites but mostly from those of my followers on Instagram. Of course this list was put together from what I was actually able to photograph, so keep in mind that it may lack some great work that just slipped between the cracks.

The pieces are shown here in alphabetical order of artist/crew name. To ensure that the list wasn’t filled with only work from a few popular artists, I have set a maximum of 4 pieces per artist. Collaborations by two or more artists count as one entry.

See also:
– Retrospective of 2020 pasted street art
– Retrospective of 2020 graffiti

Cette galerie-photo présente 100 murales et autres pièces de street art peint créées en 2020 à Montréal. Cette liste n’a pas la prétention d’être un best of de l’année puisque les goûts sont personnels et je n’ai évidemment pas eu la chance de tout photographier. La sélection s’est faite en partie parmi mes pièces favorites, mais surtout parmi les préférées de mes abonnés Instagram. Cette liste a bien sur été créée à partir de ce que j’ai eu la chance de trouver et de photographier, ce qui signifie que quelques chef d’oeuvres de 2020 pourraient ne pas y figurer.

Les pièces apparaissent ci-dessous en ordre alphabétique d’artiste/crew. Pour que la liste ne soit pas totalement accaparée par quelques artistes populaires, j’ai fixé un maximum de 4 pièces par personne. Les collaborations entre deux ou plusieurs artistes sur un même thème ne comptent que pour une entrée.

Voir aussi:
– Retrospective 2020 street art collé
– Retrospective 2020 graffiti

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Above 3 photos: As in many other cities around the world, a huge Black Lives Matter street piece was done in Montreal. In French, “La vie des noir.e.s compte” was produced by Gala Dynastie and Never Was Average and painted by multiple artists, one artist per letter (including street artists Maliciouz on the ‘N’ and Mins on the third ‘E’).

A Black Lives Matter mural by a collective of anonymous artists on the boarded up Apple Store downtown.

Abir has been blending her art into earlier pieces by various artists at the Rouen legal graffiti tunnel including that of Adida Fallen Angel as pictured here. Scroll down to the end of this post for more by Abir as she participated in the Taqueria production featured there.

Deep dish piece by Adida Fallen Angel at the Rouen legal graffiti tunnel.

Above 3 photos: A long Hochelaga production featuring Aldarwin on the long colourful fence and background, Omar Bernal on the whale and Origami Explorateur on the bird. Scroll down for more by Aldarwin and Omar under ‘Grils’ and in the Taqueria post at the end of this post. Origami Explorateur was also involved in the Taqueria production at the end of this post. Omar and Origami Explorateur both have solo works, scroll down to their names to view.

A pair of pieces by Alfalfa (left) and Pupila (right), in Rosemont.

Breonna Taylor portrait by Ali K in Mile End. The background behind Breonna is by Khaled Jaafar and on the left by Random Ice And Cactus.

Above 4 photos: the 4 sides of a shed on the Lachine Canal, by Ankh One.

Astro in a Verdun alley.

Portrait of Zombie Boy by Awie in St-Henri.

After a young boy named Liam was struck and killed crossing the street in St-Henri, Awie found out that the kid wanted to be a muralist and decided to paint this mural from his sketchbook drawings. Have a look at the Retrospective of 2020 graffiti for more by Awie.

A beautiful diptych by Cyndie Belhumeur in the Plateau.

Omar Bernal in a Plateau alley.

Omar Bernal at the Rouen legal graffiti tunnel. Omar has much more work in this retrospective, scroll up to Aldarwin or down to Grils and to the Taqueria production at the end of this post. He also made it into the Retrospective of 2020 graffiti (under ‘Dars’).

Bryan Beyung diptych in Ville St-Laurent.

Bonga in an abandoned building.

Borrris in an abandoned building.

Borrris mural in Mercier

Borrris mural in the Village. Borrris also participated in the big group portrait in Villeray, scroll down to ‘Grils’ to view.

Bosny in a Mile End alley production. Scroll down to ‘Jean-Sébastien Denis’ and to the Taqueria production at the end of this retrospective for more by Bosny. This artist also made it into the Retrospective of 2020 graffiti.

Stencil of Donald Trump kissing Fox News’ Sean Hannity, by Carnior in Cartierville.

Carnior on the Just For Laughs Museum. The character depicted here is the mascot of the Just For Laughs comedy festival/museum/empire. Gilbert Rozon, the head of Just For Laughs, was acquitted in 2020 from accusations of rape for the third time (he was also acquitted on 2 other cases in 1998). Also, 14 other women who had accused him of rape and sexual misconduct two years ago when the #MeToo movement started were denied being allowed to take Rozon to court.

A glimpse into the brain of Donald Trump from Carnior.

Ruben Carrasco in Hochelaga.

Ruben Carrasco in Hochelaga.

A tribute to Portuguese fado singer Amália Rodrigues by Paulo Carreira in the Portuguese neighborhood.

Chado in a Petite-Patrie alley.

Chado in a Villeray alley.

Cryote at ground level and Waxhead above, in a Plateau alley production curated by Waxhead. Waxhead has been very active in 2020, some of his work can also be found in this retrospective under ‘Grils’, under ‘SBU One’ and under his own name.

Denial‘s contribution to the 2020 edition of Mural Festival.

A beautiful tribute to Marcelle Ferron created by Jean-Sébastien Denis and painted by MSHL and Bosny in Outremont. Both MSHL and Bosny have solo work in this retrospective, scroll to their names to view.

Deps at the Rouen legal graffiti tunnel.

DMT under an overpass.

DMT in an abandoned building.

Dodo Osé in Little Italy.

Dodo Osé in Little Italy. This artist also made it into the Retrospective of 2020 graffiti (under ‘Fleo’ and under ‘K6A’).

Earth Crusher in Hochelaga.

Elfu at the Papineau legal graffiti wall.

Filco in Hochelaga.

Filco in Hochelaga.

Patrick Forchild‘s contribution to the 2020 edition of Mural Festival is a tribute to health workers on the frontline of the fight against the Covid19 virus. It was painted on the Jewish General Hospital which was the first hospital ready to take on patients affected by the virus.

Franco E for Mu commemorating the 30-year anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s visit to Montreal in 1990. The mural is found in St-Henri.

Gallium on a ramp of a Rosemont skatepark.

Germ Dee in Rosemont.

Grils tackling the subject of police brutaly in Rosemont. Check out the Retrospective of 2020 graffiti for more by Grils.

This huge 21-artist group mural supervised by Grils was painted in Villeray and illustrates very well the year 2020 in Montreal Street Art which saw the creation of many informal communities of artists working together, perhaps in reaction to the isolation of confinement. Front row: Kando, Her, Melsa Montagne, LNA, Fokus, Wuna, Tshoko and Mins. Middle row: Ravens Or Crows, Aldarwin, Moule, Math Lamarre, Omar Bernal, Maliciouz and Mastrocola. Back row: Adi, Derap, Waxhead, Sibo, Grils and Borrris.

Wuna, Tshoko, Ravens Or Crows, Aldarwin, Omar Bernal, Maliciouz, Waxhead, Grils and Borrris all have solo work in this retrospective, scroll to their names to view. Her, LNA, Fokus, Tshoko, Aldarwin, Omar Bernal, Adi and Grils all contributed to the Taqueria project featured at the very end of this post. Fokus also has work under his alias Malin, see ‘Jest’ below. Adi, Tshoko and Waxhead also made it into the Retrospective of 2020 pasted street art.

Hank at the Papineau legal graffiti wall.

Jest‘s contribution to the 2020 edition of the Under Pressure Festival.

Mural by Jest (mostly top part) and Malin (mostly bottom part) in Hochelaga. Both artists were involved in the Taqueria production featured at the end of this retrospective. Malin aka Fokus has more work above under ‘Grils’. Check out the Retrospective of 2020 graffiti for more by Fokus under both of his names.

Johnny Crap in the Plateau. Check out the Retrospective of 2020 graffiti for more by Johnny Crap under his alias ‘Zen’.

Kor in a Rosemont alley. Check out the Retrospective of 2020 graffiti for more by Kor.

Collaboration between Nikki Küntzle (left) and Caitlin McDonagh (right) for the 2020 edition of Canettes de Ruelle.

Collaboration between Labrona and M’Os Geez in a Hochelaga alley. Both artists have made it into the Retrospective of 2020 pasted street art. Scroll down for more by Labrona, under ‘Ledo’.

A large mural in Little Italy, by the Lama collective formed by artists Ludovic Mio, Hary, E. Bedaine and Alexis Vaillancourt. Hary also made it into the Retrospective of 2020 graffiti with a name piece.

This tribute to québécois sculptor Armand Vaillancourt was done for Mu by his son Alexis Vaillancourt with the help of his Lama crewmates.

A very long mural by the Lama collective in Rosemont.

Marc-Olivier Lamothe‘s contribution to the 2020 edition of Mural Festival.

A great collaboration between Kevin Ledo (central character) and Labrona (flying around) in a Plateau alley.

Another great collaboration between Kevin Ledo (left) and Labrona (right) in a Plateau alley. Labrona has more work in this retrospective, scroll up to his name to view.

La Loica‘s contribution to the 2020 edition of the Under Pressure Festival.

Lost Claws on a Mile End rooftop.

Lost Claws on a Petite-Patrie rooftop. This artist also made it into the Retrospective of 2020 pasted street art.

2020 marked the 40th anniversary of the first referendum on Quebec independence and Macak painted at the Rouen legal graffiti tunnel this famous picture of René-Lévesque giving his speech after having lost. Macak also made it into the Retrospective of 2020 graffiti.

Above 3 photos: a 3-part piece by Maj in a Rosemont alley.

Maliciouz in a Hampstead park. She was involved in the large ‘La vie des noir.e.s compte’ piece at the top of this page. She also contributed to the huge group portrait in Villeray, scroll up to ‘Grils’ to view.

Mateo on an abandoned minivan in Mile End.

Mateo in Mile End.

Mateo in Mile End.

Monk.e in Ahuntsic.

A tribute to Vice Verses by Monk.e, in Hochelaga. Monk.e also made it into the Retrospective of 2020 graffiti.

A mural by Mono Sourcil in the Plateau.

Collaboration between Le Monstr (door) and Loopkin (left and right) for a green alley production in Hochelaga.

An abstract mural by MSHL in Pointe St-Charles. Scroll up to ‘Jean-Sébastien Denis’ for more by this artist.

Collaboration between Origami Explorateur and VF Vibes at the Rouen legal graffiti tunnel. Origami Explorateur also finds herself in this retrospective under ‘Aldarwin’ and in the feature on the Taqueria production at the end of the post.

A tribute to George Floyd by Chris B. Powell and Caro Thibault at the Rouen legal graffiti tunnel.

Ravens Or Crows in a Mile End alley prod. She also contributed to the huge group portrait in Villeray, scroll up to ‘Grils’ to view.

A double garage diptych by Emily Read in Villeray. The animal on the door on the right is a pangolin; with the rainbow painted above, this connects the piece to the Covid19 pandemic.

Repus‘ contribution to the 2020 edition of the Lachine graffiti jam.

A tribute to MC Doom by Resok in Rosemont. Check out the Retrospective of 2020 graffiti for more by Resok.

Enok Ripley mural in Villeray.

Rouks in Rosemont.

Rouks at the Rouen legal graffiti tunnel.

SBU One (left) and Waxhead (right) on a bridge pillar. The piece was inspired by the two homeless men who usually hang out there.

SBU One in an abandoned building.

SBU One in a Mile End alley production. SBU also made it into the Retrospective of 2020 graffiti.

Scribe in the Plateau.

Scribe in the Plateau.

Scribe in the Plateau.

Scribe in the Plateau. Check out the Retrospective of 2020 graffiti for more by Scribe.

Sence in Rosemont.

Nick Sweetman at the PSC legal graffiti wall.

Tchug in Rosemont. Check out the Retrospective of 2020 graffiti for more by Tchug.

Tshoko‘s contribution to the 2020 edition of Mural Festival. She also contributed to the huge group portrait in Villeray (scroll up to ‘Grils’ to view) and to the Taqueria production featured below. She also made it into the Retrospective of 2020 pasted street art.

A beautiful Ola Volo mural in Hochelaga.

Waxhead in a Mile End alley production which he supervised.

Waxhead in a Petite-Patrie alley. Waxhead also made it into this retrospective in collaborations, scroll up to ‘Cryote’, ‘Grils’ and ‘SBU One’ to view. He also made it into the Retrospective of 2020 pasted street art.

A beautiful mural by Sophie Wilkins in Montreal North.

Wuna in a Rosemont alley. She also contributed to the huge group portrait in Villeray, scroll up to ‘Grils’ to view. Check out the Retrospective of 2020 graffiti for more by Wuna.

Zoltan in the Plateau.

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Omar Bernal’s Dia de los Muertos taqueria production

2020 was the year in which many informal communities of artists were created, the biggest of which being the gang that regularly came together at the Rouen legal graffiti tunnel to paint and hang out. This led to the production of many multi-artist productions around the city, such as one supervised by Grils in Villeray (see group photo above under ‘Grils’) and this one curated by Omar Bernal on the walls of a Hochelaga taqueria. The theme of this all black and white production was Dia de los Muertos. The photos below cover the complete production.

The long western wall features Ramses Herrera Medina, Tshoko, Grils, Moule, Jest, Fokus, LNA, Origami Explorateur, Omar Bernal, Nero, Timoh Garcia and Aldarwin.

Curator Omar Bernal‘s dog Pipa passed away during the production, so he integrated her into it at a few places including this one above Robert Davy.

Marine Martinelli on the back door.

Abir on 2nd floor back door.

Her on a back wall.

Abir on the back wall. Omar Bernal echoed her piece on the post in front.

Bosny doing his thing on this back corner.

This segment of the eastern wall shows Omar Bernal, Timoh Garcia, Grils, Bezo, Lino and Aldarwin.

Central eastern wall showing Omar Bernal, Adi, Mariposa, Verbe, Huile d’Olive, SciWalkArt, Grils, Timoh Garcia and Aldarwin.

Andra

Front wall of the taqueria, Grils on the left, and Grils and Lino on the right.

Grils on corn piece over a background by Aldarwin.

Of all the artists involved, Tshoko, Grils, Jest, Origami Explorateur, Omar Bernal, Aldarwin, Abir and Bosny have more work featured in this retrospective, scroll to their names to view. Fokus, Moule, LNA, Her and Adi are involved in the group portrait in Villeray, scroll up to ‘Grils’ to view. Fokus can also be found under his alias Malin, see ‘Jest’.

Adi, Marine Martinelli, SciWalkArt and Huile d’Olive all made it into the Retrospective of 2020 pasted street art.