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About |
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1972 - 77 University, M.A., Poznan 1979 - 81 Goldsmiths College, Poznan 1985 - 88 Ontario College of Art |
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Copyright 2007 Peter A. Barelkowski. All rights reserved |
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Peter A. Barelkowski started experimenting in painting in the 70’s and in 1975 he established his first studio.
His art education began with an MA from the University of Poznan and continued at Goldsmith College (Poznan, Poland), Ontario College of Art in Toronto (1985 – 1988) and less formally - in London, England ( Camden Arts Centre ) and Norway, where he was street performing for tourists during the late 70's.
His work has been about human conditions like isolation and alienation. Creating a paradox between his joyful colours and darker subject matter, his paintings attempt to play with our ideas around sadness. As a form of subtle escapism, the figures in his paintings are depicted in a one dimensional, cartoonish style - with almost grotesque undertones. By doing so, Barelkowski hopes to create the feel of another world.
His paintings are in private collections in Europe, USA and Canada. His studio is currently located in Toronto, Ontario (Canada).
Exhibitions:
Earls Court Gallery, Hamilton, Four Artists Show, July 4—August 4, 2013
Darkness at the edge…( curated by Thom Sokoloski ), Propeller Gallery, Toronto, June 12—July 7, 2013
TOAE 2013, Juried, Toronto, July 5— 7, 2013
Brooklyn College, New York, NY, Group Show, March 7—May 13, 2013
The Artist Project Toronto, Juried Contemporary Art Fair, February 21 - 24, 2013
Papermill Gallery, Todmorden Mills Museum, Toronto, The 2012 OSA Members' Exhibition of Selected Works, January 9 - 20, 2013
Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Salon 7, Group Exhibition, January 2—20,2013
Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Holier Than Thou, Four Artists Show, September 26 - October 7, 2012
Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Go Figure , Group Exhibition , August 15—26, 2012
TOAE 2012, Toronto, July 6—July 8, 2012
Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Political Acts - It's not about the art, July 4—July 15, 2012
Not In Contact, Photography, Propeller Gallery, Toronto , May 9—May 20, 2012
The Artist Project 2012, Toronto, March 1—4, 2012
Arta Gallery, Distillery Historic District, Toronto, Visual messages, February 16—March 1, 2012
Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Salon 6 Show , January 4 – 29, 2012
Scotiabank Nuit Blanche Independent Project, Intersecting Messages, Propeller Gallery, Toronto, September 28-October 9 , 2011
Propeller Gallery, Toronto, 15 Years -Anniversary Exhibition, August 17—28, 2011
Papermill Gallery, Todmorden Mills Museum, Toronto, The 2011 OSA Members' Exhibition of Selected Works, July 13 - 24, 2011, The Painting Award
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition ( TOAE ), juried, Toronto, July 8— 10, 2011
Arta Gallery, Distillery Historic District, Toronto, “I Paint”, ,June 2—14, 2011
The Artist Project Toronto, Toronto, March 3—6, 2011
Propeller Gallery, Toronto, The Black and White Ball, February 16—27, 2011
Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Scapes, February 2—13, 2011
Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Salon Show, January 12 – 30, 2011
Arta Gallery, Distillery Historic District, Toronto, “It’s that moment of expression”, November 18 - 29, 2010
Workman Arts , Toronto, Face it Head On: Self-Portrait Redefined , November 6 -13, 2010
Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Nuit Blanche Project, Face it Head On: Self-Portrait Redefined , September 29 - October 10, 2010
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition ( TOAE ), juried, Toronto, July 9—July 11, 2010
Propeller Gallery, Main Gallery, Toronto, Solo Exhibition—”Come Play With Us ( An Invitation To Our Horrors) “, April 14—25, 2010
Gallery Stratford, Stratford, Ontario, OSA 138th members juried exhibition “Being in Time”, April 11—June 6, 2010
John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto, Ontario Society of Artists juried show “Cause & Effect”, March 30—April 23, 2010
New York Art Expo 2010, New York, Solo, March 25—28, 2010
Toronto Artists Project 2010 ( TAP ), juried, Toronto, March 4—7, 2010
Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Salon Show, January 3—17, 2010
John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto, OSA New Members Exhibition, December 1, 2009—January 8, 2010
Arta Gallery, Distillery Historic District, Artists Toronto juried show “Vis a Vis”, October 1—15, 2009 Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Nuit Blanche, October 3, 2009
Arta Gallery, Distillery Historic District, Toronto, “ I open my eyes “, August 8—20, 2009
Propeller Gallery, Toronto, Group Show ( After TOAE ), August 5—16, 2009
Propeller Gallery, Toronto, New members show, July 22—August 2, 2009
Pentimento Fine Art Gallery, Toronto, OSA Summer 2009 Exhibition, July 16—August 30, 2009
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition ( TOAE ), juried, Toronto, July 10—July 12, 2009
John B. Aird Gallery, Ontario Society of Artists juried show “Open Minds”, Toronto , May 7 – 29, 2009
Toronto Art Expo 2009, Toronto, March 19 –22, 2009
Studio Fuse, Distillery Historic District, Toronto, “ Paint the Town Red”, Group Show, February 14 – March 1, 2009
New York Art Expo 2009, New York, February 26—March 3, 2009
Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition ( TOAE ), juried, Toronto, July 11—13, 2008
Festival International Montreal en Arts ( FIMA ), Montreal, July 3—6, 2008
John B. Aird Gallery, Toronto , Ontario Society of Artists juried show “Surfaces”, May 1 – 23, 2008, Award of Merit
Toronto Art Expo 2008, Toronto, March 6—9, 2008
Canadian Art, Casa Loma, Toronto, February 2—3, 2008
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Peter A. Barelkowski, PI Gallery, Toronto, 2008, Selected works
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“In his recent body of work, Peter A. Barelkowski is exploring the human experience of loneliness and isolation. Creating a paradox between his joyful colours and darker subject matter, his paintings attempt to play with our ideas around sadness. As a form of subtle escapism, the figures in his paintings are depicted in a one dimensional, cartoonish style - with almost grotesque undertones. By doing so, Barelkowski hopes to create the feel of another world. One that can be seen as fantastic, or merely underwater or underground - all places that exude the feel of a lost and isolated environment”. ( From artist statement )
“Adapting a visual language of grotesque and satire, Barelkowski effectively confronts the rationalism of historical perspective with the absurdity of political powers that repeatedly throws humanity into the haunting dance macabre of war and annihilation. Although, deriving from specific historical events, Barelkowski’s works convey a universal message, uncomfortably actual when applied to contemporary history”. ( Anna Stanisz, Curator of Education at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection ) |
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In Europe he is represented by Barbara Brown, London, UK.
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Private collection |
