Olympians
Olympians began as a creative and cultural mission: to celebrate athleticism, excellence, and national pride through fine art photography—and to elevate the national profile of 30 of Canada’s most accomplished Olympic athletes. Inspired by the long-standing tradition of sport as art, the project draws from the visual legacy of works like Olympia—reimagining the athletic body as a timeless symbol of human potential, discipline, and grace.
To bring this vision to life at scale, the project was commissioned as the cultural centrepiece of a landmark Toronto development designed by Daniel Libeskind—transforming a real estate campaign into a platform for national tribute. Shot across North America over two years, the resulting images form a bold Sport-Art portrait series, culminating in a limited-edition fine art book and a large-scale public exhibition.
More than a celebration of achievement, Olympians honours the individuals who embody the spirit of striving—not only on the world stage, but in the hearts of those they inspire.
Jeremy McCormack conceived and created Olympians, raising financing and producing all aspects of the project. He photographed and curated the series over a two-year, cross-country journey, capturing athletes in both portrait and action. To bring the work to print, he partnered with Bruce Mau Design, who structured and designed a 160-page fine art book featuring over 140 colour and black-and-white photographs. The book was sequenced visually—pairing images across sports based on form, motion, and tone—giving each athlete equal presence and avoiding hierarchy.
The book’s physical form also carries a quiet symbolism. Housed in bold red slipcases flanking a central white volume, the design echoes the colours and proportions of the Canadian flag—red on either side of white—creating a subtle tribute to national identity. The quality of the finished work led Bruce Mau Design to submit the book for design awards, recognising both its visual impact and cultural significance.
Creative direction was led by Emile Molin (now Senior Design Manager at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York) with design by Alex Viault. The book was printed by Flash Reproductions in Toronto, Canada.