Active since the 1990s · Neighborhood: Montreal Axe Lalime is drawn to those who are rarely seen. For more than three decades, he has used the codes of graffiti and urban art to draw attention to subjects often left at the margins: older adults, people experiencing homelessness, the animals that quietly share our environment, and the everyday objects we no longer notice. His work is marked by a steady intent to shift the gaze away from spectacle and back to the ordinary. In a field where images often aim to impress, he prefers to prompt reflection. He seeks to highlight what is generally ignored. Rooted in the graffiti culture of the 1990s, he first developed a strong command of traditional spray-paint techniques and lettering. That hands-on training gave him a deep understanding of the urban visual language, yet he soon chose to step away from the expected codes of classic graffiti. Rather than centering his practice on typography or technical prowess, he turns to the human stories that lie behind the city’s walls. His works become portraits, tributes, and social observations that question how we see the world. This approach also informs his choice of materials. Lalime favors modest supports, especially cardboard, which he transforms into complex, expressive works. The choice is deliberate: by using simple, accessible materials, he challenges the value we assign to objects and to people. His most recurring symbol is the bandage, which over the years has become a true visual signature. Inspired by a serious accident that marked his life, it speaks to human fragility, healing, and the capacity to rebuild after hardship. Among his notable projects is the series Tout en carton, presented in 2023, which pushes his exploration of ordinary materials even further. He has also paid tribute to key figures in Montreal’s urban culture, including through a mural dedicated to Scan, a pioneer of local graffiti. His portrait of Carey Price likewise reflects his connection to Quebec’s collective imagination. A member of the collectives K6A, KG, and CFC, Axe Lalime occupies a singular place on the Montreal scene: an artist who reminds us that the most modest subjects often have the most to teach us.