KONSTANTIN BOKOV

About

Konstantin Bokov (b. 1940) was born in Shostka, Ukraine. His father was a famous songwriter and poet, and it was at his wish that Bokov attended the Art Academy of Leningrad. There, he studied music and was introduced to painting. After finishing university, Bokov moved to Moscow, RUS where he encountered Van Gogh’s Red Sunset. The zealous experience of seeing that work ultimately inspired Bokov to pursue painting. In 1974, Bokov immigrated to New York City where he became a member of The Rivington School and began creating paintings, sculptural works from found objects, and DIY public installations. 

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Bokov is the subject of an award-winning independent documentary entitled, FREE, which follows his artistic process of discovering and transforming raw trash into art objects before placing the work in public places for an unsuspecting audience to see. FREE has been screened and honored at numerous festivals around the globe. A link to the trailer can be found at the bottom of this page.

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Konstantin Bokov has appeared alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring at the Now Gallery as well as in other exhibitions at various institutions that include the Emerging Collectors Gallery, Morin Miller Gallery, the Grant Gallery, and the Monique Goldstrum Gallery. The artist also showed at the 2008 European Outsider Art Fair in Vienna and the Outsider Art Fair in New York.