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Biography

Born in Parkersburg, West Virginia and raised in Houston, Texas, Rachel Lee Hovnanian is a New York-based artist whose multidisciplinary practice explores contemporary notions of narcissism, obsession and intimacy, and society’s alienating addiction to modern technological advances and media. She navigates the post-internet world, merging photography, video, sculpture, painting and installation art into surreal environments that challenge viewers to examine and reevaluate their own cultural values and relationship with digital technology. Judith Stein described Hovnanian as “a wizard at fingering uncomfortable truths."

 

Hovnanian received her BFA from the University of Texas, Austin, and has since exhibited internationally in both solo and group exhibitions in the United States, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Her recent solo exhibitions have been held at Leila Heller Gallery, New York; Pechersky Gallery, Moscow; Joyce Gallery, Beijing; and Foundation Pons, Barcelona. In addition, Hovnanian has been widely shown in group exhibitions including the University of Connecticut, Connecticut; Parasol Unit in London; Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines; Manarat al Saadivat, Abu Dhabi and at Loretta Howard Gallery, New York, in an exhibition curated by Beth Rudin DeWoody. Hovnanian’s artwork has been featured in numerous publications such asThe New York Times, WWD, Flaunt, Cultured, The Wall Street Journal Europe, Vogue, Interview, Tatler, Food & Wine, ARTnews, Modern Painters, Hyperallergic and BOMB.