In 1955, Marcella Maltais moved to Montreal. She joins the ranks of artists such as Guido Molinari, Marcelle Ferron and Rita Letendre. Naturally, the artist's works are gradually moving towards abstraction. Until 1958, the work of Marcella Maltais was exhibited in various galleries, as well as at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. The criticism is excellent and compares his studies to those of the painters Paul-Émile Borduas and Jean-Paul Riopelle. She will devote enormous energy to her non-figurative work. From the age of 25, she is considered an accomplished abstract artist.

Returning from France, the young painter received a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts in 1960. This allowed her to return to Europe, and more particularly to Greece.
Marcella Maltais is a member of the Society of Non-Figurative Artists of Montreal and has exhibited with the group in several cities across the country, including the National Gallery of Canada, the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts and the Plastic Arts Society of Quebec.