Hiding in Bamboo Painting

Pop-artist Charles Houska (pronounced House-ka) has been a working artist for more than 20 years. Colorful, bold, intense art that commands attention and triggers a smile that’s the essence of Houska’s work. He creates his own pop-art style, using a whimsical cast of characters and bright colors, bordered “obsessively” by black lines. Houska constantly focuses his energies on creating new, bold, fun art to make people smile. His studio and gallery are located in the Central West End neighborhood of St. Louis, MO, were he works as an independent artist. Though Houska’s art has been called “instantly gratifying” and “energizing” by art critics, Houska simply views his art as an escape from the gloom and doom of the real world. There is no hidden message, political or religious meaning. “I paint for light-hearted, open minded people of all ages,” he says.