Love isn’t just a feeling between two very sexy people who stare into each other’s eyes for so long that they absolutely want to share a bank account. It’s not just love at first sight that makes your cheeks flush and your hands sweat . It’s not just Roland Barthes’s faded orange quarter. It’s all that, but not only that.
Love is also a violent emotion—and violent emotions live in works of art. It’s Stendhal syndrome in front of an oil painting that still smells of glossy varnish and white spirit. It’s a moment lost in the eyes of a movie star, frozen on an inkjet print on gelatin.
On February 12, 2026, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts is organizing one of its very chic Buvette evenings in a special Valentine’s Day edition. The museum is the best place imaginable to fall madly in love.
Buvette de l’Amour
Buvette de l’Amour is a visit to exhibitions, a cocktail or glass of wine and an aperitif, music, artistic activities such as finger painting, but better.
@mbamtl
The first exhibition you can visit during the evening is the exceptional presentation of Kent Monkman’s works,History is written by the victors.
Kent Monkman is Indigenous, a member of the ocêkwi sîpiy, Fisher River Cree Nation in Treaty 5 territory in Manitoba.Through his works and hisalter ego, Miss Chief Eagle Testickle, he reinterprets colonial history from an Indigenous perspective with humor and poetry.
Kent Monkman (1965-), Protecting Medicinal Plants, 2023. Kent Monkman Studio. © and image courtesy Kent Monkman
The second exhibition to visit, on the opening day of the exhibition, is Richard Avedon: Immortal. Portraits of Time Passing, 1951-2004.
The exhibition will present portraits by cult American photographer Richard Avedon, from Chet Baker to Jean Renoir, revisiting the most influential faces of the 20th century through a hundred portraits.
The Buvette de l’Amour evening program will also feature:
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A DJ performance by Pretty Privilege
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A photo booth
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A creative workshop
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Aconversation game hosted by Apéro Sexo
Practical information
Where? Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, 1380 Sherbrooke Street West
When? Thursday, February 12, 2026, starting at 6 p.m.
How? $15.50 for MMFA members, $31 for non-members / The Buvette evening is reserved for ages 18 and up / To reserve, click here!
Cheers, Buvette de l’Amour!
