August 7 – September 19, 2026
Rexell S. Livelo: The Emotional Landscape of Work
Presented for Alberta Culture Days 2026
The Haakonson Family Gallery
Opening Reception *: Friday, August 7, 2026, from 7 pm to 9:30 pm
Free admission
The Emotional Landscape of Work is a suite of eight conceptually compelling paintings by Rexell S. Livelo, an Edmonton-based visual artist. The series explores the emotional experiences of everyday workers.
Working in a surreal, dreamlike style, Livelo combines recognizable figures with imaginative elements to reveal the inner emotional worlds of his subjects. The paintings move across a wide range of feelings—capturing moments of stress, burnout, and anxiety alongside pride, joy, and quiet resilience.
Rather than focusing solely on what work looks like, these works express what work feels like.
The subjects are drawn from industries central to Alberta’s identity, including oil and gas, agriculture, healthcare, education, skilled trades, and the service sector. By portraying these familiar roles, Livelo brings attention to the emotional realities that often remain unseen in daily professional life.
Each painting presents a distinct visual narrative, shaped through symbolic imagery and layered compositions. Through this series, Livelo invites viewers to reflect on their own experiences, opening space for dialogue around mental health, workplace culture, and the personal meaning we attach to labour.
Artist Biography
Rexell S. Livelo is a visual artist based in Edmonton, Alberta. His practice centres on painting, exploring human emotion, lived experience, and the psychological dimensions of everyday life through surreal, dreamlike imagery. Working primarily in oil and acrylic, he blends figurative realism with symbolic elements to create layered visual narratives that invite reflection and emotional connection.
He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Philippine Women’s University and later completed a Visual Arts Certificate with Distinction at the University of Alberta Extension. His work has been exhibited across Alberta and Canada, including at Harcourt House Artist Run Centre; the Federation Gallery in Vancouver; the Stollery Gallery at the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts; the City Centre Mall Window Gallery; the Art Gallery of Alberta’s 100 Free for All Anniversary Wall; and NOA Gallery in Edmonton.
Livelo is a recipient of multiple awards and scholarships, including the RBC Emerging Artist Award and the Lieutenant Governor Lois E. Hole and Harriet Winspear Scholarship. He is an active member of Harcourt House Artist Run Centre and the Federation of Canadian Artists. His work continues to explore themes of identity, emotion, and the unseen layers of human experience.
Top image:
Left: Rexell S. Livelo – An Oil Day Out Here (detail), 2026; acrylic on canvas. Image courtesy of the artist.
Right: Rexell S. Livelo – Another Order (detail), 2026; oil on canvas. Image courtesy of the artist.
*Opening Receptions are for Members and Guests
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