Art at 35,000 Feet: Cathay Pacific Turns Flights into Flying Galleries

In a move that seamlessly bridges art and travel, Cathay Pacific has launched “Gallery in the Skies”—a curatorial initiative that transforms the airline’s Business Class cabin into a flying exhibition space. This bold cultural gesture places Hong Kong’s creative talent on a global stage, offering travelers more than just comfort at cruising altitude; it offers a window into the city’s vibrant contemporary art scene.

The program launched with works by Lau Yin Yeung and Fan Yan—two artists whose practices speak to both the ethereal beauty and layered abstraction of Hong Kong’s landscape and spirit. Lau’s emotive ink paintings, capturing moments of stillness and reflection in nature, speak to an inner harmony. In contrast, Fan’s pastel-toned, minimalist abstractions subtly challenge the viewer to slow down—a poignant invitation in the often hyper-efficient rhythm of air travel.

Treating the Aircraft Cabin as a Conceptual White Cube

Rather than presenting art as ornamentation, “Gallery in the Skies” treats the aircraft cabin as a conceptual white cube. Artwork appears within the tactile environment of the Business Class space—complemented by curated media content onboard and expanded artist stories across Cathay Pacific’s platforms. The result is a thoughtful, multisensory encounter with Hong Kong’s cultural pulse, unfolding mid-air.

This initiative is particularly resonant given Hong Kong’s growing prominence on the global cultural map. With world-class institutions, international art fairs, and a dynamic gallery ecosystem, the city is carving out a distinct identity as a capital for contemporary art. By bringing that energy into the sky, Cathay Pacific underscores its role not only as a connector of global cities, but as a cultural ambassador.

Marking a Shift in Brand Storytelling

“Gallery in the Skies” also marks a shift in how brands can approach storytelling—moving beyond traditional sponsorships to embed creativity directly into experience. It’s an elegant model: high-altitude visibility for local artists, a moment of discovery for global passengers, and a deepening of emotional resonance for the airline. It also opens up new territory for potential crossovers between the worlds of art, design, and luxury hospitality.

Cathay’s Aria Suite

The Aria Suite leaves no detail unexamined. From the texture of the seat fabric to the customisable ambient lighting, every aspect has been meticulously designed with you in mind. Experience the Aria Suite in the all-new Business cabin – now on board Cathay’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft — winner of Best New Business Class at TheDesignAir Awards. The Aria Suite is much more than a seat – it’s an art form. The premium leather headrest is sculpted for soft support. Whenever you wish, indulge in hours of restful sleep on your spacious lie-flat bed, lined in rohi’s ethically sourced wool for breathable comfort that lasts throughout the flight. Touchscreen controls allow you to tailor your space with just a tap, while secondary buttons are within reach even in bed mode. Customise your mood lighting from any seat position without disturbing other passengers. Stay up or switch off – the choice is yours.

Cathay’s Gallery in the Skies

Cathay believes that art should transcend the traditional. That’s why we’ve curated 30 pieces of artwork to be displayed in our thoughtfully designed Boeing 777-300ER Business cabins. Created by artists who share a deep connection with Hong Kong, each piece offers a different perspective on nature, ranging from urban landscapes to vividly imagined dreamscapes. They’ll transport you to another world, as we carry you through the skies.

Meet a Few of the Artists

Fan Yan 

“These abstract paintings, they are like classical music, like a sonata,” Fan Yan says. “Everybody can really enjoy them in their own way. I’d like to see how the passengers connect to these works.” Fan Yan has created two pieces, Mist in Green and Mist in Pink, that form part of the Gallery in the skies initiative. Her paintings, along with 28 other artworks, will soon be displayed in the Business cabins of the Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ER. 

“These abstract paintings, they are like classical music, like a sonata,”

Fan Yan

Fan Yan’s career as a visual artist came about later in life. Born into a musical family in Beijing, she was classically trained to play the violin and viola. When she was 18, she moved to Hong Kong to attend the Academy for Performing Arts and later joined the illustrious Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, where she spent 20 years playing the viola. A combination of factors, including an injury from playing as well as the birth of her two children, saw Fan Yan decide to leave the orchestra to forge a new path. “I wanted to give myself a chance to pursue my first dream – which is painting,” she says. – Source

Lau Yin Yeung

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Lau focuses his artistic attention primarily on landscapes that are familiar to him – he is passionate about portraying both man-made and natural cityscapes. “Most of my work depicts landscapes from Hong Kong,” he details. “I live on the western side of Hong Kong Island, near the old public cargo loading areas of Kennedy Town and Shek Tong Tsui. They provide sweeping vistas and have always been my go-to spots for inspiration.” 

“Most of my work depicts landscapes from Hong Kong,”

Lau Yin Yeung

Lau’s artistic approach has evolved as he’s grown. In recent years, he has found Buddhism, which has helped shift his focus from capturing external landscapes to exploring internal states. “In my youth, painting was a way to escape reality and find focus, much like how a beautiful view can momentarily relieve one’s stress,” he says. Inspired by Buddhist teachings, he now sees painting as a way of reflecting upon one’s true self and the inherent Buddha-nature that everyone possesses – he paints not merely to depict scenes but to observe and understand his inner self. – Source

Elaine Chiu

For Hong Kong-born artist Elaine Chiu, using Hong Kong’s buildings as her paintings’ subject matter is like translating a personal conversation to her viewers. “It’s like conducting an interview with the building,” she says. “I want to tell viewers what history [the building] has been through and what kind of characteristics and personality it has.” Born in 1996, Chiu is part of the youngest cohort of millennial artists to have witnessed Hong Kong’s rapid urban development, having lived through her formative years both before and after the birth of the internet and vast digitalisation. Most of her work investigates the city’s architectural landscapes while also showcasing her intimate exploration of her self-identity, “usually through the format of painting or location sketches, performances and sculptures,” she shares. “I hope that when travellers see my work on the plane, they are reminded of a sense of home.” 

“I hope that when travellers see my work on the plane, they are reminded of a sense of home,”

Elaine Chiu

Weaving in inspiration from modern Chinese art history and ink art, she strives to create a universal language for the future through her abstract techniques, all without mistranslating for her viewers. She cites a quote from her artistic idol Wu Guanzhong, commonly acknowledged as one of the founders of modern Chinese painting, that guides her in her craft: keeping the balance between abstraction and retaining a grounded human connection is much like “flying a kite with an unbroken line.” Conversely, if you allow yourself too much loose abstraction, you will lose the human touch. – Source

“Gallery in the skies: in conversation with cityscape painter Elaine Chiu,” Credit: Mike Pickles; Courtesy of the artist and Cathay Pacific.