Inuit on her mother’s side and Greek on her father’s, Sophia Lebessis was raised in Arviat, Nunavut, a hamlet home to Susan Aglukark, and master artists like John Pangnark, and Lucy Tasseor. Her childhood was spent in Canada’s Arctic and Greece where from a young age her keen eye for art was developed.

Her lineage is tied to masterworks artists, Axangayuk Shaa and Kiowak Ashoona. Sophia 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.

When she and her family left Arviat and eventually opened an art gallery in Lake Louise, Alberta, Sophia then 11 years old, grew up in the family gallery, Northern Art Impressions, enjoying talking to tourists visiting the gallery about her life in the Arctic.

Transformation Fine Art, a by-appointment fine art boutique that specializes in Master Works of Inuit and First Nations art, is an individually tailored experience for a variety of collectors with any budget. Sophia also appraises, consults on private collections, and welcomes speaking engagements on her life in Canada’s art scene.