CIBC has given people something to do while waiting for their luggage after arriving at Toronto’s Pearson Airport.

Inspired by the closely connected themes of travel and ambition—and how the latter leads to the former—the “Ambition Takes Flight” art exhibition showcases the work of artists with pieces meant to “immerse travellers in new ideas, and culture as soon as they touchdown.”

“Travel is a top ambition for our clients and Canadians right now—whether it’s transformative and inspiring, or just a chance to escape the day-to-day—and we wanted to capture that wide-ranging spirit through the eyes of some of Canada’s most talented emerging artists,” said Esther Benzie, vice-president, brand and advertising at CIBC, which has used “Ambitions Made Real” as its brand platform since mid 2021.

The artists used different media, including paint (like Richael Laking’s “Mitakuyepi (All My Relations)” above), sculpture and mixed media, and were asked to evoke the possibilities that come from travel and ambition, and the virtue of seeing the world from different perspectives—at a moment when people are fresh from, or just beginning, a travel experience of their own. The exhibition also provides fresh exposure to the work of the artists, helping them realize their own ambitions.

“We believe that art has the power to inspire and connect people, and we’re thrilled to have been able to work with some of Canada’s most talented emerging artists to create an experience that reflects the transformative power of travel,” said Steve Miller, executive creative director at Fuse Create, which developed the exhibition for CIBC.