Sadko Hadžihasanović’s exhibition Bathers brings together intimate figurative paintings that reflect on identity, displacement, and the quiet tension of contemporary life. Presented at Paul Petro Contemporary Art, the exhibition runs from January 9 to February 7, 2026, and features works by both Hadžihasanović and Stephen Lack.
Born in Bosnia and now based in Toronto, Hadžihasanović brings an outsider’s perspective to North American culture, shaped by migration following the Bosnian war. His paintings often depict figures alone or in small groupings, suspended in moments of reflection where the emotional causes remain unseen, existing just beyond the frame.
Stephen Lack, a key figure of New York’s East Village art scene in the early 1980s, similarly examines identity formation and the effects of mass media on contemporary life. Together, both artists explore how individuals navigate meaning in a world shaped by mainstream imagery, digital influence, and cultural displacement.
The exhibition includes oil paintings such as Bathers (2024), rendered on copperplate, emphasizing materiality, intimacy, and surface tension. Across the gallery, viewers encounter quiet scenes where figures appear to be negotiating their inner lives while broader social forces linger just outside the picture.
Event Details
Exhibition Dates: January 9 – February 7, 2026
Venue: Paul Petro Contemporary Art
Location: Toronto, ON
Medium: Painting
Artists: Sadko Hadžihasanović, Stephen Lack
