At SAP Canada, our purpose to help the world run better and improve people’s lives extends far beyond technology. It’s about building meaningful relationships and fostering a culture of respect and inclusion in the communities where we live and work. As part of our ongoing reconciliation journey, we are honoured to turn the spotlight on Indigenous art and culture within our own walls.
Through a partnership with Art Rental & Sales operated by the Vancouver Art Gallery and acclaimed Indigenous artist Hugh Kearney, we are proud to welcome two of Hugh Kearney’s original artworks into our Vancouver office, creating a space for learning, connection, and dialogue.
A Canvas for Conversation and Inclusion
This initiative is a reflection of a core belief at SAP that inclusion is fundamental to who we are. We thrive on diverse perspectives and are committed to creating spaces where everyone can bring their authentic selves to work.
To celebrate the installation of his work, Hugh Kearney led an engaging interactive session, sharing the deep cultural inspiration and personal stories behind the two selected pieces. It was a powerful opportunity for our team to hear directly from the artist, ask questions, and deepen their understanding of the cultural influences woven into his art.
Hugh Kearney’s mixed-media practice bridges traditional landscape inspiration with contemporary form and cultural inheritance. Influenced by his Maliseet heritage, urban artistic traditions, and modernist references, Kearney’s work is a vibrant celebration of colour, rhythm, and cultural memory.
His artistic process involves layering plant-fibre shapes onto canvas, creating dynamic abstract compositions where form and colour connect deeply with viewers. Pill-shaped and cross-hatched elements in his work are direct references to Maliseet weaving traditions, grounding his art in a rich cultural lineage and lived experience.
The Selected Works: On Display at SAP Vancouver
This wasn’t just about choosing art, it was a collective expression of our team’s commitment to supporting Indigenous creativity and fostering cultural conversation within our workplace. To bring this belief to life, we invited our Vancouver-based employees to be part of the process and ask them to vote on the pieces we would display.
The two pieces chosen by our employees, Parcel and Christmas Victoria, will be on display throughout the year.
In Parcel, a BC landscape painting is superimposed with abstract shapes and vibrant colour. Kearney channels the German Romantic landscape painter Caspar David Friedrich, eliciting a powerful emotional response to the natural world.
Christmas Victoria features a scene from Victoria, BC, where a landscape painting is playfully collaged with magazine cut-outs and abstract daubs of paint, creating a dynamic and colourful composition.
More Than Just Art
“This initiative supports Indigenous artists like Hugh Kearney, and reaffirms our commitment to cultural inclusion, creativity, and meaningful engagement,” said Cindy Fagen, Managing Director, SAP Labs Canada. “We are honoured to have his work in our space as we continue our journey toward building a workplace and a community rooted in respect, diversity, and shared humanity.”
By creating space for Indigenous voices, stories, and living cultural practices, we’re taking meaningful steps toward understanding, reconciliation, and ensuring our workplace reflects the diverse communities on whose lands we live and work. Their presence does more than just enhance our office environment, they serve as a daily catalyst for deeper conversation, cultural awareness, and ongoing learning.
