All About The Art
Art O’Rama Community Markets Return
The Fourth Art O’Rama by Maggie Caroddo (from left to right: Judy Yun, Lina Züchner, Catherine Chen, Zach Johnson, and Megan Bourrie)
On Sunday, June 22, 2025, friends, art lovers, and curious passersby gathered in Jeanne Mance Park for the fourth edition of Art O’Rama, a collective art market where local artists and designers sell their wares. Surrounded by picnickers, dog walkers, and afternoon strollers, people filtered in and out from 11 AM to 4 PM to stop for a chat and purchase art from a team of talented vendors.
Last year, while at a button-making workshop hosted by creative network My Friend Frankie, friends Catherine Chen and Zach Johnson were conversing about wanting to sell their art more and how the prices many markets charge vendors can be discouraging. Zach, who began making art under the name Sharpeepees five years ago, discovered a newfound love for painting bleach designs on clothing when unpacking his suitcase two years ago after relocating to Montreal from Ottawa. Since reviving Sharpeepees, Zach has vended a mix of clothing, stickers, and zines. Catherine, whose art has been displayed in local galleries such as Mai/son, creates lively postcards, blending both digital and physical art. Her experience includes custom designs for various community organizations, such as Santropol Roulant and the McGill Food Coalition. When the pair realized they could combine their talents and establish their own market, they began brainstorming how to put this idea in motion.
Once Zach and Catherine were set on producing a market, they reached out to local artist and friend Judy Yun and asked her to make a poster advertising the event. Judy, an incoming graphic design student at the University of Quebec at Montreal, whose creations include lino print clothing, embroidered patches, and keychains, was also invited to join the team and sell her art. The catchy market name is thanks to Catherine, who concocted the title during a spitballing session with Zach.
After months of preparation, the inaugural Art O’Rama took place on June 14, 2024, at the intersection of Saint Laurent and Prince-Arthur, an area packed with foot traffic due to a significant chunk of the latter street being pedestrian only. Being that it was their first-ever event, the trio undertook an extensive promotion campaign, both on social media and on the streets. Vibrant posters advertising the market were posted around the city, with corresponding callouts on Instagram inviting followers to hunt the posters down and post a picture in order to secure a free sticker and a spot in a mystery box raffle.
The central location, promotion campaign, and the quality and uniqueness of the art being sold made the first market a smashing success. The team decided to capitalize on this momentum and host another edition the following month and transform it into an ongoing series. Intrigued by the first event, artist Lina Züchner hopped on board, selling pieces including stickers and prints, with an emphasis on affordability. Although Lina has been creating art in various forms for years, being able to take part in Art O’Rama has inspired her to become more prolific. The second Art O’Rama took place at Square Saint Louis on July 19, 2024, and included a raffle, mystery boxes, and live drawings. This location was a favourite amongst team members, as it attracts lots of foot traffic and doubles as a pleasant place to go for a stroll or just sit and enjoy the sunlight.
The Fourth Art O’Rama by Lavinia Auhoma and Zach Johnson
Last season closed off with a final Art O’Rama on September 7, 2024, hosted at Jeanne Mance. Concordia University drawing and painting student Megan Bourrie joined the team in time for the summer’s final market, whose work includes prints of an oil painting they completed for class, as well as colourful stickers. Although the team had to pack their things away for the winter, the summer heat has revived the series, with last month’s Art O’Rama marking the first of hopefully several markets this year.
The Art O’Rama team currently consists of Zach, Judy, Lina, Megan, and Catherine, all of whom produce an eclectic array of enticing creations. Since each artist also has their own art to focus on, everyone does a little bit of everything and contributes to group tasks when they have the time, such as making posters and advertising their markets. No matter which stage of the planning process they’re at, Art O’Rama’s foundation as a project initiated by friends remains evident—everything is collectively agreed upon, and no semblances of hierarchy are present. Everyone is always encouraged to propose any ideas they have with the rest of the group, and no decisions are made until everyone has had the chance to share their thoughts.
Beyond the markets, Art O’Rama exists as a community of artists who are free to bond over their love for creating art without the pressure and pretentiousness that can sometimes be prevalent in certain creative spaces. With artists who are always down for a friendly chat and are very committed to cultivating a welcoming environment, attending Art O’Rama is always a pleasant experience. Lina also emphasized the fact that they’re not bound by any institution or organization, which gives the team the freedom to make what they want of the market without worrying about conforming to one specific expectation or vision. For those looking to embark on an art-fueled endeavour with their friends, Lina encourages that it’s “cool to start something with your friends even if you don’t know where it will go or what will happen.”
So far, all four Art O’Rama markets have been held across various parks throughout Montreal. In the future, the team would also like to host indoor markets since Montreal’s long and dreary winters restrict most outdoor events to the summer months. They are also working on expanding their social media outreach so that more people can find out about their markets. With its affordability, accessibility, and wide range of alluring goods for sale, Art O’Rama truly has something for everyone—and is certainly not an event to be missed.
More information can be found on Art O’Rama’s Instagram.
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