IN MEMORIAM: NICK LEBESSIS

 

March 29th, 1953 - November 2nd, 2014 



Nicholas (Nick) Lebessis, Professional Appraiser &

Promoter of Inuit Art and Woodland School of Art



"Nick was very passionate about his art, especially Morrisseau. He felt that he was the only artist worth admiring and collecting." ~ Gino Restivo


Considered to be ‘the resident philosopher of the native art dealers,’ Nick Lebessis was well known in the Inuit art community for his knowledge of the Inuit people’s culture and language.

Lebessis had been involved with all of the stages of the “Journey of Inuit art,” from the procurement of materials to marketing, curating, lecturing, publishing, distributing and retailing Inuit art on a domestic and global level.

His experience brought a refreshing and intimate inside view to the wonderful world of the arts that he so readily shared with others interested in the subject.

He was also great promoter of the following artists: Jackson Beardy (1944-1984), Eddy Cobiness (1933-1996), Alex Janvier (b. 1935), Norval Morrisseau (1931-2007), Daphne Odjig (b. 1919), Carl Ray (1942-1978), Clemence Wescoupe, Benjamin Chee Chee and others. 

He was owner of Sedna Art Gallery in Banff, Alberta and Northern Art Impressions in Lake Louise (Samson Mall), Alberta.





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Nicholas Lebessis fought a hard battle with cancer that ended peacefully with his family by his side at Tom Baker Cancer Centre in Calgary. Following his wishes he will have his his funeral at:

SACRED HEART PARISH

808 11 St S, Golden, BC

Monday, November 10th

1:30 PM

Father Peter officiating from St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church 

Following the funeral his family is hosting refreshments
at The Island Restaurant at 101 10th Ave.
You can email them at lebessisfamily@gmail.com.
They will do their best to connect with you.

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 >>> Reference posts:
- Inuit Art Road Show /Ref.: Nick Lebessis/, Art lovers bring rare gems, Chinese knock-offs, to Inuit art appraisal /Ref.: Nick Lebessis/, - The Art of Norval Morrisseau in Commercial Art Galleries Around the World (Part XI) /Ref.: Northern Art Impressions, Lake Louise Alberta/, - Norval Morrisseau Authentic Paintings at Auction Houses Across North America (Part I) /Ref.: Sedna Art Gallery, Banff Alberta/, - The Art of Norval Morrisseau in Commercial Art Galleries Around the World (Part XLI) /Ref.: Paintings from Collection of Mr. Rolf Schneiders of Thunder Bay, Ontario/, - Sacred World of Norval Morrisseau (Part XXIV) /Ref.: Paintings from Collection of Mr. Rolf Schneiders of Thunder Bay, Ontario/
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