The Main Logo
Arts & Culture

Benoit Tardif: An Illustrator's Guide to Montreal

From spots to work and places to print to undercelebrated artistic curios, few people are better to offer a guide to Montreal from an illustrator’s perspective than this enigmatic artist.

J.P. Karwacki

J.P. Karwacki

May 10, 2024- Read time: 6 min
View on a map
Benoit Tardif: An Illustrator's Guide to MontrealPhotograph: Cindy Boyce

He may live in Repentigny now, but illustrator Benoit Tardif’s known Montreal intimately for over a decade. From humble beginnings in Saint-Eustache, his work’s since appeared everywhere from the New York Times and The Walrus to Habs jerseys and iconic drawings of restaurants and bars like Joe Beef and Burgundy Lion.

There’s no style quite as playful as Tardif’s: Vibrant, whimsical, and characterized by bold colors, imaginative scenes, and a playful use of characters and elements, each of his pieces feel both exaggeratedly cartoonish and nostalgic, like a carefully filled in colouring book.

“I’m just trying to do something unpretentious. I want to have fun, so I’ve developed a style where I know I’ll have fun,” Benoit says.

Member-only story

Unlock Montreal’s stories. Join The Main community.

Read this story free.

Enter your email to unlock your first article and get The Bulletin — our weekly roundup of food, art, and local culture.

  • 5 free articles per month
  • Save your favourite places & guides
  • Weekly newsletter The Bulletin
  • Stay connected to Montreal culture

Become an Insider.

Join a community that supports independent Montreal stories and celebrates the people shaping its culture.

Subscribe
  • Unlimited access to all stories
  • Exclusive features & local insights
  • Special offers and event invites
  • 10% off in our shop
  • Support local storytelling

Already a member? Sign in

The Bulletin: The flood of festivals, car-free streets, and good vibes to come [Issue #76]

Previous

The Bulletin: The flood of festivals, car-free streets, and good vibes to come [Issue #76]

Next

Miracolo: The restaurant, cathedral, temple, and theatre of Montreal's Plateau

Miracolo: The restaurant, cathedral, temple, and theatre of Montreal's Plateau

Related articles

M for Montreal is where the whole world heard it first
Kaitlyn DiBartolo

M for Montreal is where the whole world heard it first

The festival has been turning Montreal's restless creative energy into international careers for 20 years, and it's nowhere near slowing down.

Edward Hillel's new book offers a rare then-and-now look at an iconic Montreal street
J.P. Karwacki

Edward Hillel's new book offers a rare then-and-now look at an iconic Montreal street

Nearly 40 years after his landmark book helped designate The Main as a heritage site, Edward Hillel returns with a layered portrait of memory, time, and urban change.

Things to do in Montreal this December
The Main

Things to do in Montreal this December

The best things to do in Montreal during December fill the calendar with ballet, punk rock, immersive art, and more than enough holiday spirit.

Éditions La Peuplade is publishing some of the world's most exciting French-language literature
Alexander Hackett

Éditions La Peuplade is publishing some of the world's most exciting French-language literature

For 20 years, the Montreal-based indie publisher has connected Quebec writers with international audiences and brought global voices to local readers.

Serving legends and locals, Chez Ménick is our unofficial sports hall of fame
Jeremy Cox

Serving legends and locals, Chez Ménick is our unofficial sports hall of fame

For 66 years, Dominique Perrazino's Plateau barbershop has been where hockey legends, Expos players, and neighbourhood regulars all gather to talk, connect, and get a trim.

The unlikely third spaces emerging from Montreal’s bouldering culture
AnnaClare Sung

The unlikely third spaces emerging from Montreal’s bouldering culture

How climbing gyms like Café Bloc have become neighborhood hangouts—complete with coffee, bars, and saunas—that offer a compelling alternative to traditional gym culture.