Houben Tcherkelov (1970) is a New York-based painter and experimental artist whose work examines how symbolic imagery legitimizes national power. Born in Bulgaria, he studied painting at the National Academy of Art in Sofia, where his early photography, film, and installations critiqued Bulgarian society during its complex transition from communism to a globalized market.
After studying impasto painting in Amsterdam under Jörg Immendorff, Tcherkelov relocated to New York City in 2000, where he shifted his focus exclusively to textured painting techniques. His contemporary portfolio features intricate renderings of imagery from historic American and international currencies, executed through a sophisticated combination of impasto, glaze, foil, acrylic, and watercolor.
© 2026. All content on this blog is protected by international copyright laws All images are copyrighted © by Houben Tcherkelov or assignee. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained. All images used for illustrative purposes only
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| Houben Tcherkelov |
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| 5 DM, 2011 |
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| 5 Euro, 2012 |
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| 5 Leva Bulgaria, 2012 |
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| Quarter, Florida, 2012 |
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| $1. Eye of Providence, 2014 |
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| $1. George Washington, 2014 |
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| $1. Seal, 2014 |
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| $5. Abe Lincoln, 2015 |
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| $50. Leva, 2016 |
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| $100. Benjamin Franklin, 2016 |
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| $200. FDR US Savings Bond, 2019 |
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| $1,000,000. Marilyn Monroe, 2020 |
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| 2 Colones Mona Lisa, 2020 |
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| 500 Pesos. Frida Kahlo, 2020 |
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| $100. Benjamin Franklin, 2022 |
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| $100. Statue of Liberty, 2022 |
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| $100. Statue of Liberty, 2022 |
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| 5 Cent Coin, Thomas Jefferson, 2022 |
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| $1. George Washington, 2025 |
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| $5. Abe Lincoln, 2025 |
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| $10. Alexander Hamilton, 2025 |
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| $10. Alexander Hamilton, 2025 |
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| $50. US Capitol, 2025 |
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| $50. 2025 |
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| Ferdinand (Tsar Ferdinand of Bulgaria Coin Edition), 2026 |
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| $1. George Washington, 2026 |
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| Queen Elizabeth, 2026 |
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| Statue of Liberty, 2026 |
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What makes Houben Tcherkelov’s work especially fascinating is the way familiar currency imagery becomes something much more than a financial symbol. By reworking historical portraits and motifs through rich textures and layered techniques, he invites us to think about how art, identity, and political power intersect. Definitely an artist worth discovering beyond the surface. https://only-spins.edu.gr
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