The thrill of finding a work of art that speaks to you can stop you in your tracks—or send you on a quest. Diana Vreeland, the legendary Met Costume Institute consultant, believed that “the eye must travel.” While this could almost be any art lover’s motto, how then do we stand still long enough to enjoy or feel wonder? Thankfully, I have found that the eye also listens. How curiosity and conversation transform a casual viewer into a lover and an art lover into an explorer is one kind of journey I can share.

A fixture in the heart of the Quartier des Spectacles since last year, Montréal’s Patel Brown Gallery is currently hosting a show by Kim Dorland, a Canadian painter known for his visceral works.

Bob Hendriks paints as he breathes. Each brushstroke, every shade of his palette seems to reflect a feeling, a thought. This painter has mastered the art of making his paintings speak, a rare gift.