We recently connected with Charles Houska and have shared our conversation below.

Charles, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I always knew that I could draw and had the awareness that I had creative talent as early as elementary school. I loved art projects and found joy and ease expressing myself creatively. It wasn’t until going to college and thinking about what I wanted for my future that I decided on a creative path. At the time, I thought making a living with art would involve working with a corporate focus, so I pursued a degree in advertising.

I was also painting during that time and had done a few portraits. I remember sending an image I had painted of Oprah to her, and she loved it! That gave me so much confidence. Then the CEO of Absolut Vodka saw my work and called me to do a special commission. I heard the message on my answering machine and immediately called him back. He asked me to do an Absolute Vodka painting and bought two other paintings that I had in my portfolio.

These two experiences really sparked my passion and I realized that I was more interested in fine art than commercial art. My signature style developed bridging graphics and fine art together, and that was the start of taking the leap to make a living with my paintings. This was during the 80’s, so pop art was very popular. I seemed to be in the right place at the right time for my career to blossom.

Charles, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Today, I run a retail gallery in the Central West End of St. Louis, MO. My team and I focus on bridging connections between art lovers, artists, and the visions they create. This business has developed organically over the years from the initial desire to sell my own art. I moved to St. Louis and bought the gallery building in 1998, as a place to have a working studio and gallery show room. For years, I did what ever I could to promote my work, including being represented by Duane Reed, who has a prominent gallery across the street from me. I met art lovers and collectors who helped support me and my growing career. These relationships have been invaluable to me over the years and allowed me to transition my career to what it is now.

What makes my gallery and story special is that I understand all of the aspects of being a working artist. I entered this field, not as a business man, but as a creative. I learned so much over the years about the importance of consistency and reliability in a community. People have come to know me for where I am located, my signature style and my gallery as a place to become familiar with new and up and coming contemporary artists from St. Louis.

I am proud of the experiences I have had, the courage it took to support myself with my artwork, and now the ability to share what I have learned with other artists. It is a path that brings specific challenges and definitely is not for the faint of heart! The community that we continue to build through the gallery, I believe makes all of us stronger.

Houska Gallery now represents over 40 local artists, hosting multiple openings a year and a rotating show schedule. We continue to provide what we are known for, as well as evolving to incorporate new artists and mediums. We believe that having art incorporated into daily life is important and makes all of our lives more enjoyable. It is still exciting to see a patron fall in love with a work of art and be able to share the story of the artist with them!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

In the beginning stages of my career, I didn’t understand the value of being represented by a gallery, or the expectations of that relationship. I learned the hard way by making a mistake that caused me to be removed from their roster!

While being represented by a gallery, I was invited to hang some of my paintings in a furniture store. I accepted the offer without consulting with my gallery, without realizing that this move would undermine so much of what they had done to help get me established. I thought I was doing a good thing for my career, by getting the most exposure possible, but they taught me that in fact, I was devaluing my own work and breaking a cardinal rule of representation in the art world.

This is a lesson that now I understand very well, being a gallery owner. There is a method and strategy to developing an artist’s career. Having the opportunity to work with a professional willing to invest in your artistic career is one that I didn’t understand as a budding artist. My team and I strive to educate our artists about this relationship, so that we are able to work together to make our efforts on both ends to be the most optimal.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

As I mentioned before, I started my career as a working artist. There came a time when I decided to pivot my focus to not only sell my own work, but open my gallery to other artists. This decision came partially because I had met a few other artists in St. Louis, who became friends of mine and they needed a place to show their work. I already had the perfect space and it was a very natural transition for me to share it with others. After years of only concentrating on painting, it was somewhat a relief to shift my focus and I was ready to try something new. This decision birthed Houska Gallery and was the beginning of what the gallery has become today.

Contact Info:

• Website: Houska.com
• Instagram: @Charleshouskastudio
• Other: Houskastore.com HouskaGallery.com

Image Credits
Emily Elhoffer Suzy Gorman Virginia Harold