Art Urbain de Montréal

Somehow I knew this city would have its fill of illegally painted exteriors.

Per Wooster Collective, web mecca for urban artists (or urban artphiles, comme moi), the best time to graf in Montreal is at night, in the middle of winter.

"Sure it is -30 [Celsius, mind you] outside but all the snow lowers visibility and creates large snow dunes near walls. Bring big coats, hats and shoes. One of the best features of this city is the lack of buffing. You put up something in Montreal, it is likely to be there for the next decade.... " [2003]

The city's also been known to host street art treasure hunts, and produce illicit art that proactively works towards urban renewal--like when Roadsworth painted bike lanes in the streets after 9/11 in an attempt to illuminate, and therefore lessen, the city's dependence on oil.

And now, a scrollshow of works.