Houben R.T.

Houben Tcherkelov, known as Houben R.T., explores the symbolic links between government produced images and national power and identity. Inspired by his native Soviet Regime’s and the United States’ use of imagery to foster a national identity, he creates paintings using images derived from various currencies. Interested in exploring how these images function out of their government issued context, he isolates or repositions the images and renders them in a lyrical, colorful, and highly textured manner.

Houben received his degree in painting at the Conservative Art Academy in Sofia and was associated with the Radical art movement around XXL Gallery. In his early work, he explored post-communist Bulgarian life through photography, film, and installations. Although his work was critically acclaimed, he abandoned this technique in favor of painting upon moving to New York City in 2000. His work has been exhibited at the Bronx Museum; the Museum of Biblical Art, NY; the Brogan Museum, FL; and, NYMEX Art Gallery at the World Financial Center.

Submitted by Toshkova Fine Art Advisory