The Union Station art exhibition “A Transit Through Time” puts the work of seven talented Black Toronto artists on full display.
In time for Black History Month, Union Arts has returned with two brand new art shows located at the Oak Room and West Wing at Union Station, the busiest transportation hub in Canada with 300,000 visitors daily. This is the third exhibition of its kind, which offers unparalleled exposure for the artists involved.
The exhibition launched on February 12th with Nothing More Nothing Less, a solo exhibition by guest artist Jordan Sook. Then in the West Wing we find A Transit Through Time, co-curated with MakeRoom Inc. After a public call for pieces which reflect on culture and honour the past, the curators chose to highlight the work of Destinie Adélakun, Pixel Heller, Segun Caezar, Heritier Bilaka, Rico Poku, and Camille Kiffin. According to the curators their pieces “explore the connections between past and present, showcasing the enduring legacy and creativity of Black communities.”
For MakeRpom Inc. founder and exhibition curator, Trevor Twells, it’s a celebration of the history of Black creativity and culture.
“This is our third iteration with Union Station and TD. Make Room was inspired by the Octavia Butler quote, I wrote myself in because I’m here, I’m me and I’m writing. So it made a ponder how Black creativeness has permeated the culture for hundreds of years”, Twells explains. “And we ask artists to ponder upon this concept and up came this beautiful collection. So we have themes of spirituality, reclamation and tradition, as well as are the themes of making space for yourself in places where you might not belong.”
If you haven’t had a chance to check out the exhibition, it’s not too late. Nothing More Nothing Less and A Transit Through Time, run until August 31, 2025.
Now let’s take a closer look at the seven artists.
Jordan Sook
Jordan Sook is a contemporary mixed media artist who does it all—sculpture, installation, and painting. Since starting his career in 2017, hIs work has been exhibited at Power Plant Gallery, MacLaren Art Centre, Toronto Media Arts Centre, the Nia Centre, Union Station, and the Vancouver Convention Centre. He’s also worked with leading brands like Nike, 19 Crimes, and Arc’teryx.
His latest pieces, located inside Union Station’s Oak Room, feature butterfly imagery symbolizing self-expression and the joy of the human spirit. While Black History Month celebrations often look back to the past, including slavery, the exhibition looks ahead.
“The inspiration really comes from, you know, a sense of freedom liberation and really just being able to create unapologetically. I think you know, when sort of task with this series of installations, I wanted to approach the idea of black history different. I wanted to sort of be defiant on like not just being representative of a black body, but more so.” –Jordan Sook, interview with SHIFTER
His next project will be perhaps his most ambitious yet as he creates an installation for the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge.
