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For his first major solo exhibition in Montéal, lavishly gay painter Mathieu Laca has created what he calls his own personal pantheon, consisting of almost twenty portraits of famous artists, from Hieronymus Bosch, to Francis Bacon (pictured), to Laca himself.

World-renowned artists Laurie Anderson, Gilbert & George, showcased at Ottawa’s SAW Gallery with Montréal trickster 2fik and video veteran Paul Wong. “Extreme Self”, Oct 4 – Nov 24.

Curator Elisha Lim, most recently known for their “Sissy” calendar and animation for AGIR’s video against Bill C-31, sits pensively at Café 1000g, vibrating with enthusiasm (and chocolate cake) for the chance to bring their two-spirited, queer and trans people of colour (2-QTPOC) heroes to Montréal for an exhibit and event series at artist-run centre articule August 10-19.

Celebrating the gallerist’s 50th birthday and a year-long collaboration on their touring exhibit, La Petite Mort’s Guy Bérubé and Chilean curator Felipe Bracelis will host the summer’s gayest art show opening, Flesh Garden, on Friday, July 6.

The Festival International Montréal en Arts (FIMA) is back for its 13th edition, filling Ste-Catherine Street with artists from June 27 to July 1. The event’s director, Stéphane Mibilais is counting on some new and innovative art to attract a new generation of art lovers and is ecstatic to see Montréal’s gay Village fostering artists and creatives.

This weekend, Québec’s beautiful Pontiac region will be showcasing rural artists’ work in their studios. About an hour drive west of Ottawa, down the scenic Ottawa River valley, the tour begins with painter Marcio Melo’s studio in Bristol, moving west towards visual artist Dale Shutt in îIe-du-Grand-Calumet before looping back and ending at artist Cheryl Dolan’s studio in Quyon. In total, 15 artists’ studios will open their doors for the event.

Bastien Tremblay is one of those artists who doesn’t need a lot of words to get his message across. Check out his solo show of pop-inspired painting at Galerie Dentaire, vernissage June 9, 5-8pm…

Three thinky art shows dominate the cultural pickings in Ottawa this month. Sanita Fejzic recommends…

With Trans Pride underway tomorrow, the Association des Transexuel(le)s du Québec ATQ) and Fondation Émergence have teamed up for their Trans Egeria exhibit at Galerie Nowhere, with a vernissage tonight. Curator Frédéric Fontan was in down from Paris for the occasion to talk about the project to “demystify” transgender using the glamour of fashion and photography.

Former 2B cover photographer and queer eccentric David J Romero didn’t take his break-up last year lightly. When things ended between him and his unnamed muse, there was only one way to get over it: make a photographic altarpiece based on fictional Montréal “saints” and take over Concordia’s FOFA Gallery, tonight (Apr 29), at 7pm.