Sophia Lebessis | The Art of Survival: A Modern day Inuit Odyssey through the Arts

Owner of Transformation Fine Art, Canada’s first Inuk owned Inuit art gallery located in Calgary’s historic Grain Exchange Building, Sophia Lebessis is paving the way for the next generation of Inuit entrepreneurs to edify their art from their perspective.

Inuit on her mother’s side and Greek on her father’s, Lebessis was raised in Arviat, Nunavut. Her childhood was spent in Canada’s Arctic and Greece where from a young age her keen eye for art was developed. Lebessis is a descendant of the Idlout family depicted on the Canadian two-dollar bill, a currency artifact that depicts a dark time in Canadian history. She enjoys sharing her culture in ways that is missing from the greater dialogue of Inuit people and Canadian identity. With the passion of a Greek and the sensitivity of an Inuk, her unique cultural background tantalizes our curiosity of art, culture and humanity.

Lebessis has called Calgary home since 2002. She moved here to attend post-secondary school, and graduated from the University of Calgary with a BA in Communications and recently graduated with a Masters in Adult Education. Transformation Fine Art, specializing in Master Works of Inuit and First Nations art, is an individually tailored experience for collectors of any budget. Lebessis also appraises, consults on private collections, and welcomes speaking engagements on her life in Canada’s art scene.