He graduated from the PAX Association Secondary School in Warsaw. Between 1972 and 1977, he studied history and philosophy at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. In 1979, he enrolled at the School of Goldsmithing in Poznań, from which he graduated in 1981. He has been painting and writing since his early youth, expressing his own experiences, fears and dreams in art. From 1975, he rented a studio in Poznań, where he painted. He had no need to apply to the Academy of Fine Arts, as he wanted to paint intuitively, the way he felt. His early period was dominated by figurative painting, portraits and still life.

In 1981, Barelkowski moved to London, where he came into contact with the Camden Arts Centre. In 1982 he emigrated with his family to Canada. At the same time, he worked as a jeweller-goldsmith and went on to study at the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD), where he studied from 1985 to 1988. He set up his own business - Peter Pan Jewellery - designed and made jewellery, and created small clay sculptures - human figurines - which were very popular. From 2000 the artist devoted himself exclusively to painting, but until 2008 he treated his work personally and did not sell it.

Emptiness and loneliness, cartoon-like figures reminiscent of twisted dolls, box-like houses, overturned chairs, groups of figures disappearing into the empty space of a painting, flying animals and people, a puppet - the artist's alter ego - are all elements that make up Peter Barelkowski's painting world. An important element in the paintings is a ladder - a symbol of hope, a chance to get out of emptiness, out of loneliness. Peter Barelkowski's paintings can be interpreted universally, but they can also be perceived as obsessive, turned towards the past of the Jewish holocaust, which stems from the artist's family roots. Since the death of his father, in 2000, awareness of Jewish identity has become a theme that preoccupies Barelkowsky, evident in his series of paintings, as well as deepened through his readings.

The artist paints in series and the titles of the series are significant: "Exodus", "Ark", "Horrors", "Come Play with Us", "An Invitation to Our Horror (The Nazis)", 'The Jewish Villages', 'Trains', 'Safety', 'Happy Returns'. In 2008, the artist entered the art market. He showed his work at the Toronto Art Expo and at the 'Surfaces' exhibition at the Ontario Society of Artists, where one of his works was awarded. That same year, he showed his work at the John B. Aird Gallery in Toronto, the International Festival of Arts in Montreal (FIMA) and the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition.

In 2009, the artist participated in the New York Art Expo, the Toronto Art Expo, the Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition, took part in the group exhibition 'Open Minds' organised by the Ontario Society of Artists at the John B. Aird Gallery and began a collaboration with Propeller Gallery in Toronto. Since 2009, the artist has been a member of the Ontario Society of Artists. In 2010, Propeller Gallery of Toronto, representing the artist, organised a solo exhibition for him entitled 'Come Play with Us. An Invitation To Our Horrors'. Propeller Gallery has held his exhibitions annually, much to the interest of the art collecting community.

At the Ontario Society of Artists (OSA) members' exhibition, in 2011, Barelkowski's work won the Best in Painting Award. Propeller Gallery featured the artist in group exhibitions in 2012: "Not in Contact", "Go Figure", "Holier Than Thou", "It's Not About the Art", "Salon7". In 2013, the artist participated in a group exhibition at Brooklyn College in New York and in the exhibition 'Darkness at the Edge' at Propeller Gallery in Toronto, curated by Thom Sokolowski.

In 2014, during Museum Night, the artist showed a series of 'Migration' at Propeller Gallery, referencing wartime migrations as well as contemporary refugee escapes. Annually, the artist has participated in the Contemporary Art Fair in Toronto. In 2015, at the Ontario Society of Artists' Members' Exhibition, Peter Barelkowski won the Best in Show Award. In 2015, the artist, represented by Spence Gallery, participated in the Art Fair in New York and the Art Fair Battersea in London.

In 2016, Spence Gallery presented the artist at: Miami Contemporary Art Fair, Affordable Art Fair London Hampstead, Seoul Art Show, Artexpo New York, Affordable Art Fair Battersea London. In 2016, the artist had a solo exhibition, The Family Album, as part of the Toronto Art Fair. Selected exhibitions in 2017: Artist Project 2017 - Contemporary Art Fair, Toronto; 'Minded Spaces - One Men Show', Gallery 133, Toronto; 'Mosaic, 145th Anniversary Exhibition' - Ontario Society of Artists; Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition (TOAE); New York Art Fair; London Art Fair Battersea.

In 2018, the artist participated in: Contemporary Art Fair - Artist Project 2018, Toronto; 3 Artists Exhibition - Gordon Harrison Gallery, Spring Art Fair, Ottawa; Art Fair New York; Ontario Society of Artists Members Exhibition. In 2019, selected exhibitions: "Appetites - Group Show", Arta Gallery, Distillery Historic Districts, Toronto; Contemporary Art Fair - Artist Project 2019, Toronto; Art Busan, Korea; Members Exhibition of Selected Works, Ontario Society of Artists; McMichael Canadian Art Collection - Autumn Art Sale, Kleinburg/Ontario.

Peter Barelkowski's work is held in private collections in Canada, the United States, South Korea, the United Kingdom and Poland.

Work in catalogue
Peter Barelkowski, 'Ark', oil, acrylic on canvas, 160 x 138 cm. One of the paintings from the series 'The Ark'. The red and black hull of the ark appears to be on fire. The small boxes of houses grouped on the ark are also in a red glow. A lone figure is visible at the stern. The ark carries not animals but the shtetl, the Jewish town, which is a frequent figure in Peter Barelkowski's paintings. There are other symbols characteristic of this artist: a ladder and overturned chairs. The artist has created an image of annihilation and rescue at the same time. The illustrative, literal nature of this painting is broken by the thick, perfectly worked texture, the contrasting clash of red and the soiled white of the background.