We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Aykeh a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Aykeh, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

“Art For Art’s Sake” was the first independent show I co-curated with a fellow artist friend. This project holds great significance for me, as the message behind it stemmed from experiences with the shifting culture and direction of the arts today.

Our goal was to gather the purest form of art and bring the community together without cost barriers. We did not charge artists to submit or display their work, nor did we charge the community to visit the gallery space. The aim was to make sharing and experiencing art as accessible as possible.

Art holds an unmatched power in this world of equations, numbers, and statistics, and our goal was to tap into that power.
To me, art is an expression drawn from the depths of the creator’s mind. It displays raw emotion and serves as a stream of conversation. By removing economic motives—a common and occasionally unavoidable factor in today’s world—we revealed the purest form of expression, conversation, and individuality. This “stream” process occurs while simultaneously reflecting the shared source from which we all draw.

Art For Art’s Sake aimed to share exactly what the title promised—art for the sake of making art. The exhibition was the realization of insights drawn from within each artist, created by the community, for the community.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

From a young age, I was always drawn to the arts in various forms—music, photography, writing, acting, fashion, dance, and, visual arts. I’m grateful to have always had a deep craving for creativity, or rather, a craving for perspective—a desire to see the world from unconventional, obtuse and often strange, angles. It was this drive that led me to explore different artistic expressions.

My true artistic journey began in my youth, when I’d ride the streetcar into the core of the city, hopping off to explore backstreets and alleys where graffiti and murals lit up the city in a vibrance I had never experienced before. Decorating our city and leaving a mark through spray paint shifted my perspective, transforming art from a hobby into a tool for expression. I saw firsthand how art could transform a space, inject life into a community, and communicate stories through colour and form. The energy of this creative rebellion propelled me and solidified my passion for visual arts.

In university, my interest in artistic expression expanded further as I dove into writing, learning to tell stories through words in both creative and professional contexts. I started to weave written elements into my visual pieces, whether through small phrases in my murals or the incorporation of words into painted canvas works. This blending of mediums allowed me to fully embrace my role as a storyteller—a narrative thread that runs through all my work. Whether it’s painting, digital art, fashion design, or art direction, I see each project as an opportunity to tell a story. At the core of everything I do is a character, a plot, a history, and a conclusion.

I pride myself on not being limited to one medium or style. My creative journey is ever-evolving, driven by the idea that art is a playground and I want to enjoy every aspect of it from the swings, to the slides to the jungle gym. This curiosity allows me to explore boundlessly, constantly pushing the boundaries of expression and creation.

My work is deeply personal, driven by an unwavering belief in the power of art to change the world. Every piece I create is a reflection of my journey—a story told through colour, words, and imagery. I aim to spark something in each viewer, offering a new perspective or igniting a feeling that stays long after it’s seen.

Art has always been my bread and butter, the driving force that motivates me every day. It keeps me focused, keeps me awake, and inspires me to strive for a utopia in my life, my community, and eventually the world.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Investing in arts and culture is something society can do at the municipal, provincial, and national levels. When our neighbourhoods and lives are filled with reminders that allow our creative spirits to roam, I believe this will not only support creatives, but also have a positive impact by uplifting and promoting strong communities.

I’ve found that isolation from face-to-face connections has affected social behaviours in our communities, making it easier to focus on our differences rather than our similarities. Investing in the care of our neighbourhoods through art and creating spaces where people can explore their imaginations and dreams will shine a positive light in today’s often dim and grey society.

I believe there is a lack of connection because our society tends to invest in business ventures rather than in communities. Investing in arts and culture is a direct investment in building connections and reinvigorating community members to care for one another.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

‘Non-creatives’ may struggle to understand that the core of any artistic journey lies in the power of imagination. For creatives, allowing the mind to run freely—unconstrained by boundaries, time, or shame—becomes an essential process of self-expression. However, many non-creatives dismiss this as mere idealism, when in reality, it’s a vital form of personal liberation. Imagination has the power to lift us from dark times, offering hope when life feels unbearable. It creates an escape, a world shaped solely by our own thoughts, beyond society’s rigid definitions of “normal.”
I don’t think I see a world where of ‘non-creatives’ exist. Everyone has creative potential, even if some are unable to tap into it, potentially influenced by limiting beliefs they’ve internalized over time. My own journey has been shaped by imagination—and the occasional ‘delusion’—which has freed me to embrace life to its fullest. Never let the child within you be silenced.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: __filmer__

Image Credits

Initial headshot photo taken by Kevin Train (Instagram: @tran.kevin)

Remaining photos taken by myself, Aykeh, on both digital and film camera