Artistic collaborations

The REM is increasingly becoming a part of the Greater Montréal landscape. Artists are drawing inspiration from its cars, its infrastructure, its construction and the neighbourhoods through which it travels. Discover the REM through the work of a series of Québec artists.

Discover the REM's artistic initiatives:

Art on work site fences
The UniR Art Program
The REM seen by illustrators

Art on work site fences

For safety reasons, our work sites must be surrounded by fences. We collaborate with local artists to transform these simple wooden panels into temporary works of art and thus embellish our work sites.

McGill Station | Downtown Montréal

The giants under the mountain

A collaboration with MASSIVart and La Camaraderie, the mural presents the "roommates" of the mountain, in reference to the Édouard-Montpetit station of the REM, which is located 70 metres below Mount Royal and inspired by the student life of the area. It is said that the giants cross the mountain to communicate from one station to another, which is why the mural begins at the Édouard-Montpetit station and continues to the McGill station of the REM.

For almost a month, the giants posted a classified ad at McGill station to find a roommate.

Remi, the name chosen by the public, is the new giant who made his entrance as a roommate.

The latter's welcome party is pictured at the corner of Ste-Catherine and McGill College.

A little further, on McGill College, you can watch the giants come to life with your phone.

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Wildlife boreal forest

This creative and poetic break, the result of a collaboration with MASSIVart, was brought to the worksite to bring a little cheer to your day. With a northern theme, the palisades first took on the appearance of a boreal forest. We now make way for the fauna and flora of Quebec with a colorful concept, imagined in collaboration with La Camaraderie.

Colorful concept on the construction palisades of the future McGill station | © Myriam Baril-Tessier

Shot of the installation of the work on the palisades of the future McGill station | © Myriam Baril-Tessier

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Édouard-Montpetit Station | Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce Borough

Montréal en transit

This mural, installed in February 2024, was created by artist Maria Balestrini in collaboration with MASSIVart. She designed a colorful illustration focused on diversity and firmly anchored in the Montréal environment. The idea of moving from one place to another by using local transportation is evoked through the layers of transparency.

Inclusivity and boldness have guided artist Maria Balestrini in creating this mural, to design something colorful and playful. | © Myriam Baril-Tessier

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The giants under the mountain

A collaboration with MASSIVart and La Camaraderie, the mural presents the "roommates" of the mountain, in reference to the Édouard-Montpetit station of the REM, which is located 70 metres below Mount Royal and inspired by the student life of the area. It is said that the giants cross the mountain to communicate from one station to another, which is why the mural begins at the Édouard-Montpetit station and continues to the McGill station of the REM.

Playful concept on the construction fences of the future Édouard-Montpetit station | MASSIVart and La Camaraderie

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Sunnybrooke Station | Pierrefonds-Roxboro Borough

This mural is the result of a collaboration between artist Teenadultt and the youth of Maison des Jeunes À-MA-BAIE. In partnership with MU, a non-profit organization, Teenadultt met with engaged, creative and eager young people to create a colourful universe filled with characters that look like them. The mural puts their world on display. It showcases what they enjoy and what makes them feel good. It’s a reflection of them.

This mural is about diversity, the mix of cultures and the sense of community that young people have managed to create in this neighborhood, due in particular Maison des Jeunes À-MA-BAIE.

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Île-Bigras Station | Laval

The interactive work by artist Christine Hantzo is produced by MU in collaboration with the Comité Citoyen Laval Les Îles CCLLI. It can be seen on the palisade of the construction site of the future Île-Bigras station of the REM.

Christine Hantzo's interactive work on the palisade of the future Île-Bigras station of the REM.

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O'Brien Blvd. | Borough of Saint-Laurent

The work "L'Archipel" by artist Lucas Saenger is produced by MU. It can be seen on the construction fence on O'Brien Blvd.

Lucas Saenger's work on the construction fence on O'Brien Blvd.

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Ville-de-Mont-Royal Station | Ville de Mont-Royal

The work "We are Roses / Comme des roses" by artist Isabelle Duguay, a collaborative project between the Town of Mount Royal, MU and the REM, embellishes the construction site fence of the future Ville-de-Mont-Royal station.

Isabelle Duguay's work on the construction palisade of the future Ville-de-Mont-Royal station of the REM.

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The UniR Art Program

Unveiling of the REM public art program

The REM public art program, named UniR, draws its inspiration from the union of art and the citizen, and includes an innovative collaboration with the universities of Greater Montréal.

Learn more

The REM seen by illustrators

The REM asked illustrators to draw its construction sites in various cities and neighbourhoods of Greater Montréal. Here’s a look at the latest collaborations.

Tania Mignacca

Tania Mignacca is a Montréal illustrator and writer of the Ponto web comic about the adventures of a young orange traffic cone in Montréal.

In this work, Tania has drawn the Southwest sector and the REM’s elevated structure, with Ponto—the main character in all the strips—in the foreground.

Vincent Toutou

Vincent Toutou uses pop culture as a raw material and stands out for his fun, unique visual signature.

He has illustrated the elevated structure in full construction on the West Island and the destinations that will be available to future REM users, such as the Grand Parc de l’Ouest.

Victor Garibay

Victor is a Mexican illustrator in love with Montréal, its neighbourhoods, its animals and its people. He has illustrated the REM’s construction sites in the Saint-Laurent borough.

He also inspired the article The 3 best ways to explore Greater Montréal with the REM, by showcasing Greater Montréal landmarks and places to see.

Camille Pomerlo

Camille Pomerlo is known for her intricate fantasy line drawings.

In this work, Camille has illustrated the railway bridge linking Montréal and Îles Laval over the Rivière des Prairies. She features construction on the North Shore in her work.

Myriam Wares

Myriam Wares is inspired by surrealism and narrative drawing, and pursues themes related to nature, science, culture and mythology.

For the unveiling of the REM’s cars, Myriam illustrated the first REM train running on the South Shore.