08/26/2026
Micak Gallery is proud to present "Jacob’s Ladder," a solo exhibition by celebrated Polish-Canadian painter, Peter Barelkowski.
In the Book of Genesis, Jacob dreams of a ladder stretching between earth and heaven, with angels ascending and descending between two realms. "Jacob’s Ladder" takes the biblical story as its point of departure, exploring a recurring motif throughout Barelkowski’s decades-long practice.
In Barelkowski’s work, ladders appear as mysterious connectors between worlds. They suggest transition, passage and escape from the everyday towards an uncertain realm of possibility.
Featuring works from the artist’s recent 'Angel Series,' the exhibition presents angels that resist conventional spiritual interpretations. Rather than appearing as idealized or otherworldly beings, Barelkowski’s angels are humorous, awkward, vulnerable, curious, tragic, and quietly contemplative. Their expressions and postures suggest personalities and inner lives, bringing these celestial figures down to earth.
Through his distinctive figures and references to Jewish cultural narrative, Barelkowski has developed a recognizable personal and symbolic language. Appearing simple at first glance, his paintings slowly draw viewers into his complex emotional and psychological narratives that somehow feel as lighthearted as they do haunting.
Jacob’s Ladder
September 2–27, 2026
Curator’s Tour: Sat, September 5, 2 p.m.
Reception: Thurs, September 17, 6–8 p.m.
Peter Barelkowski's career spans decades and continents. Educated in Poland, the UK, and Canada, he has lived and worked in London and Norway, with work held in public and private collections across Europe, the United States, and Canada.
Peter Barelkowski
