About the Exhibit

This exhibition celebrates the artistic journey of prominent artist Konstantin Bokov (born in Shostka, Ukraine) through a curated selection of paintings, assemblages, and works on paper from the Kolodzei Art Foundation’s collection. The exhibit offers a glimpse into his creative process, tracing his journey from the early works of 1978-1979 – including watercolor, marker, and crayon works on paper – to the expressive 1985 drawing series of the George Washington Bridge Bus Station. The progression culminates in his vibrant, whimsical sculptures made from found and recycled city materials. Bokov’s work celebrates the energy of the New York cityscape, transforming everyday observations into soulful, multimedia reflections on urban life.

An Exhibit Opening reception will take place on January 21, 2026. Learn more >>

About the Artist

Konstantin Bokov was born in Shostka, Ukraine in 1940 to the Soviet poet and songwriter Victor Bokov. Pursuing a career as an artist was encouraged by his family, and, at a young age, he attended the Art Academy of Leningrad in St. Petersburg. Initially, he studied music with the intention of following his father’s illustrious career, but it was his introduction to painting that genuinely cemented Bokov’s direction in life. After completing his studies, Bokov moved to Moscow where he discovered the works of Vincent Van Gogh and knew he had found his calling. Finally, pursuing the urge for freedom and artistic expression, Bokov immigrated to New York City in 1974.

Bokov continues to live and work in New York. A talented draftsman, he is always drawing, capturing the energy and mood of a scene with his impressions and observations of the surroundings. With his vivid imagination, Bokov also utilizes paint, fabric, plastic, and everyday found objects to explore his creative ideas. He has been featured in a documentary film and a New York Times article. His work has been included in numerous solo and group exhibitions at museums and galleries and is held in several prominent public collections.

About the Kolodzei Art Foundation

The Kolodzei Art Foundation, Inc., a US-based 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public foundation founded in 1991, organizes exhibitions and cultural exchanges in museums and cultural centers in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere, often utilizing the considerable resources of the Kolodzei Collection of Russian and Eastern European Art, and publishes books.The Kolodzei Collection of Russian and Eastern European Art chronicles six decades of nonconformist and contemporary art from the Khrushchev Thaw to the present and consists of over 7,000 works, including paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, photography, digital and kinetic art, video, and interactive installations, by more than 300 artists from Russia, Eastern Europe, and the former Soviet Union. http://kolodzeiart.org/

Images (left to right or top to bottom):

Konstantin Bokov, Self-Portrait, 1984. Pencil on paper, 10 x 8 in.Kolodzei Collection of Russian and Eastern European Art, Kolodzei Art Foundation www.kolodzeiart.org

Konstantin Bokov, George Washington Bridge Bus Station Series, 1985. Marker, china marker on paper, 11 x 14 in. Kolodzei Collection of Russian and Eastern European Art, Kolodzei Art Foundation www.kolodzeiart.org

Konstantin Bokov, Portrait of Salvador Dali, 2011. Oil, mixed media, found objects, 31 x 16 in. Kolodzei Collection of Russian and Eastern European Art, Kolodzei Art Foundation www.kolodzeiart.org

All non-Columbia visitors must meet the primary vaccination series mandate.

Registration and government ID are required to visit the exhibit. Please email harriman@columbia.edu no later than 48 hrs before entry to register.