TORONTO—Marketing and advertising executives will soon be showing off their artistic genius. Ad Lounge, a Toronto networking organization for advertising professionals, has gathered 20 samples of art from some of the biggest names in the business. On June 16th, it will host “Art from the Unexpected” where it will auction pieces created by head honchos from such companies as MySpace Canada, eBay Canada and Yahoo Canada.

Submissions range from acrylic painting to pen and ink to digital print. Ad Lounge founder Trina Boos says she wanted the participants to create something around the theme of Eureka; a big concept or revelation. The result, Boos claims, is a discovery of some artistic talent.

She learned that her former boss, MacLaren MRM president Goodwin Gibson, studied art in university before venturing into business. Gibson’s portfolio was burned in a fire while he was in school and he has not painted since, until now. “We’re finding a lot of interesting stories like that where people really had to push themselves creatively and some of the work has just been astounding,” says Boos. “You’d never expect the work that comes out of these people.”

Eighteen out of the 20 contributors are expected to attend the event. Tickets cost $100. Proceeds of the auction will go to SKETCH, an art studio for street kids and homeless youth. Contact: www.artfromtheunexpected.com; www.adlounge.ca/event