A queer and trans interdisciplinary artist based in Calgary, Levin Ifko’s work spans photography, textiles, sculpture, installation, writing, and sound.
Drawing on themes of queer memory, mental health, and longing, Ifko approaches art as a form of care, connection, and community support. He has exhibited across Alberta at The New Gallery, Stride Gallery, and the Mitchell Art Gallery. Last year, he held his first solo show, Tender to the Flame, at the Esker Foundation.
A FORM OF ACTIVISM
“I got into art fairly young. I always remember being interested in making things. My parents used to take me to museums and galleries, so I’m sure that influenced me at some point.
“In high school, I was involved in volunteering [for the] Gender and Sexuality Alliance clubs. That’s probably where my ‘professional’ work as an artist began. I saw art as a form of activism and as a way to make life easier and more fun for me and my friends.”
MARKERS OF TIME
“I think a lot of artists, especially visual, have a deep love for objects. Objects can be sentimental, cultural, symbolic. They’re portals to memory, to identity. Growing up, I always had this connection to things, [like] the way a fabric feels, or how something fits perfectly in your hand, certain colours and shapes.
“When I was collecting transit tickets, it came out of a few things. First, I take transit, so I would constantly see these little slips folded, stepped on, [and] tossed. Transfers especially caught my eye because they’re meant to be used once and thrown away. But to me, they’re markers of time; they commemorate a moment, a memory, an experience.”
WORKING WITH OCD
“When I start working on a project I’m excited about, I often enter a flow state. That’s when my OCD and anxiety quiet down. Art has helped me navigate those things.
“OCD also makes me very detail-oriented, which is great, until it’s too much. I’ve learned that when those intense feelings come up, it’s better to pause and step away until I feel excited again.
“Overthinking can kill the energy of a piece. So I try to work in short bursts — sometimes just a few minutes — and come back when I am ready.”
A WAY IN
“I’ve always made art to express myself and connect with others. There’ve been times in my life when it was hard to connect through words, but art always felt like a way to convey something meaningful to me.
“Art can be an exercise in self-reflection: ‘What ideas are important to me and why?’ ‘ How can I work through an experience that I had?’
“The arts as a whole have a special ability to bring up feelings and emotions that others have felt otherwise, which is just a way of saying that it makes us feel less alone.”
TENDER TO THE FLAME
“That show came together quickly. Shauna Thompson, a curator at the Esker Foundation, invited me in. The whole staff was so lovely to work with. My mom, who’s a seamstress, gave me advice on working with the fabrics and materials I was using.
“Emotionally, I was thinking about the provincial government’s moves against trans rights: how they’re often framed as protecting people, protecting children. But coming out as a trans youth myself at 15, I’ve never felt protected by the system. My friends helped me navigate healthcare, school, gender-affirming care, everything.
“Tender to the Flame is about that: how the trans and queer community cares for each other. It’s about relationships, about feeling seen and understood. ‘Tending the flame’ means keeping each other alive: preserving a sense of energy and spirit.”
LOVE AT THE CORE
“I hope my work resonates on an energetic or subconscious level. Even if someone doesn’t personally connect to the themes, art has a way of reaching people through texture, sound, and imagery. The feel of fabric, certain sounds, smells, or materials can evoke memories.
“Even though I create with trans people in mind, at its core, my work is about connection — about learning how to love. That means taking care, encouraging, and advocating for one another.”
This Q&A was created in collaboration with Werklund Centre. To see more of Levin Ifko’s work, visit levinifko.com or follow them on Instagram @levinifko.
