Rachel Lee Hovnanian
Skip to main content
  • Menu
  • Artworks
  • Exhibitions
  • Videos
  • Press
  • About
Cart
0 items $
Checkout

Item added to cart

View cart & checkout
Continue shopping
Menu

Power and burden of beauty

  • Poor Teddy
  • Angels Listening
  • Beyond the Hedges
  • Body Armor
  • Happy Hour
  • Narcissus
  • Neons
  • Performance
  • Power and Burden of Beauty
  • Ready Mades
  • Too Good To Be True
  • Video Installation
  • With Power and Burden of Beauty, Hovnanian employs a visual vocabulary that includes pageant winners from the artist’s home state...
    With Power and Burden of Beauty, Hovnanian employs a visual vocabulary that includes pageant winners from the artist’s home state of Texas; their trophies, flowers, tiaras and formal wear; and the swimsuits, cosmetics and the retail environment that surrounds and supports them. Overall, the installation unfolds as a study of how beauty is ritualized in society, be it at home or in the media, here presented as paintings, sculptures, installations, and performances. 

     

    Allowing the viewers to come to their own conclusions, Hovnanian presents us with imagery that refers to how women are valued for their physical appearance. Employing wit, absurdity and humor as expressive means, Hovnanian creates works that question our understanding of "What is beauty?” and "Who is the most beautiful?” requiring us to become aware of those moments when we feel forced to judge, to be judged, to compete, and to conform.
    • Rachel Lee Hovnanian, Beauty Queen Vending Machine, 2009
      Rachel Lee Hovnanian, Beauty Queen Vending Machine, 2009
    • Rachel Lee Hovnanian, Beauty Queen Trophy Case, 2009
      Rachel Lee Hovnanian, Beauty Queen Trophy Case, 2009
    • Rachel Lee Hovnanian, Fun House Dressing Room, 2007
      Rachel Lee Hovnanian, Fun House Dressing Room, 2007
    • Rachel Lee Hovnanian, Wall of Confidence (1/3), 2009
      Rachel Lee Hovnanian, Wall of Confidence (1/3), 2009
    • Rachel Lee Hovnanian, Beauty Queen Totem (Marble), 2009
      Rachel Lee Hovnanian, Beauty Queen Totem (Marble), 2009
    • Rachel Lee Hovnanian, Size 18, 2009
      Rachel Lee Hovnanian, Size 18, 2009

studio520@rachelleehovnanian.com

Instagram, opens in a new tab.
Manage cookies
Copyright © 2025 Rachel Lee Hovnanian
Site by Artlogic

This website uses cookies
This site uses cookies to help make it more useful to you. Please contact us to find out more about our Cookie Policy.

Manage cookies
Accept

Cookie preferences

Check the boxes for the cookie categories you allow our site to use

Cookie options
Required for the website to function and cannot be disabled.
Improve your experience on the website by storing choices you make about how it should function.
Allow us to collect anonymous usage data in order to improve the experience on our website.
Allow us to identify our visitors so that we can offer personalised, targeted marketing.
Save preferences