A new group exhibition titled “Horse Power” at Rookleys Canadian Art in Ridgeway, Canada, explores the horse as a central motif in art history. On view from May 30 to July 31, 2026, the show brings together over 80 works from the gallery’s collection, ranging from historical to contemporary pieces. Highlights include a folk art painting by Maud Lewis, works by Robert Elmer Lougheed and Franklin Arbuckle, and contemporary pieces by Chinese Canadian artist Peter Cheung. The exhibition is presented in collaboration with the nearby Fort Erie Race Track, which opened in 1897 and launches its 2026 season the same weekend.
The exhibition matters because it offers a rare opportunity to survey how artists across generations and cultures have depicted horses—a subject that demands technical mastery of anatomy and movement. By pairing historical works with contemporary voices and linking the show to a historic racetrack, “Horse Power” underscores the horse’s enduring role in Canadian culture, labor, and imagination. It also provides a lens through which to examine broader shifts in artistic technique and thematic approach over time.