Lost Claws in Cartierville

This work brings together a surreal vocabulary and a figurative approach. Its value does not come from applying decoration to architecture: the mural gains meaning through its scale, its surface and the way it is encountered in a real place.

Lost Claws is a Montreal-based street artist who has been making waves since 2017. A wheatpasting and graffiti specialist, he has left his mark on the city's streets and alleys with a distinctive blend of dark humour, pessimism, and sarcasm. Through his art, he expresses his viewpoint on the world, life, and relationships, using a variety of characters ranging from recurring figures such as teeth, skeletons, and the personification of Death to unique animal-led creations. With his wheatpasting skills, Lost Claws adds layers of depth and texture to his pieces, allowing them to blend seamlessly into the urban landscape. In addition, Lost Claws possesses a remarkable ability to encapsulate societal issues through his dark, satirical lens. His work prompts introspection and dialogue, challenging viewers to confront the complexities of our current society with a touch of humour. Lost Claws' output is both prolific and elusive, as pieces are sometimes destroyed or removed, turning encounters into a treasure hunt. His works can be found across Montreal, particularly in the Mile End and Plateau neighbourhoods. Whether it's a gigantic tooth, a whimsical skeleton, or an enigmatic representation of Death, Lost Claws' wheatpastes on the city's walls never fail to entertain.

Lost Claws, whose practice is connected with Montréal, develops a visual world that can be followed from one wall to another. Captions and archives connected to this body of work document interventions at Plateau, Mile End, Ville-Marie, Cartierville, Pointe St-Charles, Rosemont. These points of reference place the image within a practice rather than treating it as an isolated visual.