André Pitre, born in Gaspésie, lives and works in Montreal. An architect turned painter, he exhibits in Canada and abroad. His works are part of major collections, and he is represented by several prestigious galleries, notably in Toronto.
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Galerie Mission Old Brewery
The cafeteria in the Webster Pavilion is home to the Galerie Mission Old Brewery.
More than a cafeteria
The cafeteria walls are decorated with original artwork that is admired by Old Brewery Mission clients, staff and volunteers.
The Galerie Mission Old Brewery, previously called Galerie Carlos, is the brainchild of Carlos Anglarill. A longtime counsellor at the Old Brewery Mission, he took on the role of curator of our art gallery when it opened in 2009. The gallery was named in his honour in 2016 when it moved into the cafeteria.
The Galerie is part of an approach aimed at offering dignity and respect to the spaces frequented by people experiencing homelessness.
Featured artists
Helen Fortin
Helene Fortin is a Canadian artist who has presented her work in many of Montreal's cafés and galleries, both as a solo artist and as part of art collectives. Driven by the conviction that art has an exceptional power to bring community together, she explores this idea through her acrylic canvases, where fluid colors and layered textures mingle. Her vivid, saturated palette infuses her works with a vibrant energy, shot through with a tension between movement, power and light.
Helen Mayer
Montreal-born Helen Mayer is a committed artist who has been an active participant in the local art scene for over 25 years. She has taken part in numerous group exhibitions and plays a key role in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce arts community as director of NDG ART HOP, an annual event highlighting the neighborhood's artists' studios. She is also the current president of the Women's Art Studio (WAS). Her works are eclectic and colorful, inspired by nature and her spiritual activities.
Past exhibitions
Every year, half a dozen artists show their work at Galerie Mission Old Brewery, where it is enjoyed by staff and clients alike.
135th anniversary exhibition
On the occasion of our 135ᵉ anniversary, discover 15 original works of art specially selected to celebrate our history and mission.
These unique creations will be exhibited in each of our 15 facilities, offering an enriching artistic experience to our empoyees and residents. The selection was made by Bob Venafro, curator of the Old Brewery Mission Gallery.
Dr. Gary Wild has been a physician for over forty years. This artist explores abstract painting to express the link between healing and creativity. His works reflect human emotions, the contrast between precision and uncertainty, and invite viewers to reflect.
Linda Rutenberg, an artist photographer with over 30 years of experience, teaches, gives lectures, and creates photographic series showcased in books. Her work explores the environment and its inhabitants, with series focused on climate change and human impact.
Luc Martineau, originally from Sherbrooke and now based in Montreal, is a multidisciplinary artist and former lawyer who explores abstraction through painting, photography, poetry and digital art. His project “Family Constellations” in 2025 examines ancestral legacies and contemporary identity.
Lynda Schneider Granatstein explores universal themes, depicting femininity through the painting of the female body, often nude. Her works incorporate antique archetypes, personal objects, and various materials, creating sensual, modern scenes.
Martin Blanchet, a Quebec painter born in 1972, is an accomplished artist with a background in graphic arts and painting. He has exhibited in numerous galleries in Quebec, as well as internationally, winning various prizes, notably in France and Canada. His work can be found in many private and public collections.
Nicole Caron, a self-taught artist born in 1963 in Trois-Rivières, paints mainly with oil and a palette knife, blending expressionism and impressionism. Her works, rich in color and texture, combine realism and abstraction, inspired by Quebec painters.
Owisokon Lahache is a Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) artist from Kahnawake. Through her paintings, she explores cultural narratives and Indigenous traditions. Her vibrant art celebrates identity and resilience, highlighting deep connections to her community and ancestors.
Peter W. Hart, a Montreal-based professional artist, develops a unique signature with primary colors and gestures inspired by abstract expressionism. His works, created with acrylics and unconventional materials, create dynamic, sublimate nature and are exhibited internationally.
Helen Fortin, an expressionist painter from Sherbrooke, explores abstraction and landscapes inspired by the Eastern Townships. A former promoter and development advisor, she is active in Montreal’s arts community. Her vibrant works captivate, inviting viewers on an introspective journey.
Bob Venafro, is passionate about discovery, the artist explores the impasto technique in his works, mainly focused on trees and landscapes. Since 2009, he has been deepening his creative approach, combining emotion and texture, while studying the beauty of nature.
British artist Susan Porter, based in Montreal, creates minimalist paintings that captivate an international audience with their graphic simplicity. Her work invites viewers to use their imagination, without competition, much like a flower that simply blooms.
Travel photographer Walter Manuel captures the essence of the world's nature and cultures with deep emotion and artistry. From Borneo to Africa, his authentic visual narratives reveal the nature’s soul, connecting viewers through universal stories of beauty and resilience.
Scott Macleaod is a renowned Montreal multimedia artist and filmmaker of Nordic descent. He has represented Canada at a number of events including the European City of Culture Festival in Dublin. His work has been collected by a number of corporations and museums. He is a fellow at The Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico, a recipient of the William Blair Bruce Travel Fine Arts Scholarship from the Canadian Scandinavian Foundation and an affiliate at the COHDS at Concordia University.
Maggie Romanovici is a professional artist and former teacher. Her paintings explore lyrical abstraction through color, brush or palette knife movement, texture, and contrasts, inviting viewers to reflect and engage in introspection.
Ranee Lee, a Canadian jazz pioneer, is a Juno Award winner and a member of the Order of Canada. Also an author, actress, teacher and painter, she sees painting as a form of personal expression, in harmony with music.
Our curators
Bob Venafro’s’ journey from the health system to the corporate world and eventually to retirement and as Curator of the Mission Old Brewery Gallery reflects a rich tapestry of experiences.
Bob's background in both the healthcare system and the corporate world provides him with a unique perspective that is invaluable in his role as a Curator. His understanding of both the human condition and the intricacies of organizational structures could inform his approach to curating exhibitions that are not only aesthetically enriching but also socially conscious and inclusive.
Prior to being accepted as the Volunteer Curator of Mission Old Brewery Bob's engagement with the homeless at Acceuil Bonneau in Old Montreal brought to his attention the wealth of energy, industry, and above all the creativity that resides in those we treat as invisible.
His dedication to his art, as evidenced by his five solo exhibitions and selection for showcases like Artothèque at Stewart Hall, speaks to his skill and passion.