Local artists have painted 16 BIXI bicycles in Montreal to create a rolling public gallery called “Art in Motion” [1].
The initiative transforms standard city transit into an open-air exhibition, aiming to integrate art into everyday public spaces during the summer months [2].
Launched on Tuesday morning, June 9, the project, also known by its French name “L’art en mouvement” [3], is a collaboration between BIXI, Loto-Québec, and a group of local creators [1]. The effort seeks to celebrate the season by turning functional transportation into visual landmarks that move through the city streets [2].
Among the participants is collaborating artist Pierre Lapointe, who helped bring the vision to life. Because the number of modified bicycles is limited to 16 [1], the project encourages residents and tourists to actively search for the pieces as they appear throughout the city.
"There are only 16 bikes… so you have to find a little bit like Pokémon Go," Lapointe said [4].
The partnership between the bike-share system and the provincial lottery corporation allows the city to showcase local talent without requiring visitors to enter a traditional museum. By utilizing the existing BIXI network, the artists can ensure their work reaches a diverse audience across different neighborhoods [3].
This rolling gallery is designed to be a temporary summer installation, blending the utility of urban mobility with the accessibility of public art [2].
““There are only 16 bikes… so you have to find a little bit like Pokémon Go.””
This project represents a trend in 'tactical urbanism,' where city infrastructure is repurposed to improve the aesthetic and cultural quality of urban life. By gamifying the discovery of the bikes, the city encourages residents to engage more deeply with their environment and supports the visibility of local artists in a non-traditional venue.
