The STM unveils its 100th work of art in the Montreal métro

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With the recent installation of Point de mire by artist Francis Montillaud, the Montreal métro now boasts 100 works of art—a milestone that highlights the métro’s prominent role in the city’s artistic and architectural heritage.

Since a few days, métro riders at Pie-IX station have been able to admire Point de mire, a series of aluminum cast and sheet metal sculptures by artist Francis Montillaud, commemorating the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal.  This installation officially brings the number of public artworks across the métro’s 68 stations to 100.

The piece consists of two main components: on the mezzanine level, three crowns are suspended from ceiling openings, while at the west entrance, a sculptural relief features a parametric wall and three medals.

Volet de l'oeuvre Point de mire à la station Pie-IXVolet de l'oeuvre Point de mire à la station Pie-IX

Photo credit: Francis Montillaud

The work was created following modernization and accessibility upgrades to Pie-IX station as part of Quebec’s policy to integrate art into architecture and the environment of government and public buildings and sites, commonly known as the 1% Policy.

Under this same policy, Strates by artist Josée Pedneault and Rives scintillantes by artist Véronique La Perrière M. were recently installed at Outremont and Place-Saint-Henri stations, respectively.

The Montreal métro: Renowned for its unique architecture and artistic integration

The Montreal métro stands out from most other transit systems around the world thanks to its uniquely designed stations, each with its own architectural identity. Over the years, the integration of artwork has elevated the métro into a public art gallery accessible to everyone.

Although the 1% Policy was established in 1961, it wasn’t applied to métro stations until the early 2000s. Before then, there was no official obligation to include artwork, but the City of Montreal—and later the Communauté urbaine de Montréal—chose to do so nonetheless, thanks to generous financial support from businesses and organizations.

Because of this forward-thinking approach, passengers today can enjoy works by renowned artists such as Marcelle Ferron, Jean-Paul Mousseau, Charles Daudelin, Frédéric Back, Jordi Bonet, Jacques de Tonnancour and Pierre Granche, to name just a few. 

For more information, the STM website contains a wealth of details about the art in its network and its rich cultural heritage.