[3][4] He graduated from the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, and moved to Paris in 1990.
-- Zone Of Urgency, 2003, Chinese Pavilion, 2007), Canton Express (2003, Venice), Nuit Blanche (2004, Paris), the 2nd Guangzhou Triennial (2005), the 2nd Tirana Biennial (2005), the 10th Istanbul Biennial (2007), "Global Multitude" (Luxembourg 2007), "Trans(cient)City" (Luxembourg 2007), EV+A 2008 (Limerick), "The Spectacle of the Everyday, The 10th Lyon Biennale" (Lyon, 2009), the 5th Auckland Triennial (Auckland, New Zealand, May - August 2013), etc.
He has also taught and lectured in various artistic and educational institutions including Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten (Amsterdam), HISk (Antwerp /Ghent),[6] Forecast (Berlin),[7] as well as numerous universities and museums across the world.
His recent books include "Paradigm Shifts, Walter & McBean Galleries exhibitions and public programs, San Francisco Art Institute, 2006-2011", San Francisco Art Institute, 2011 (with Mary Ellyn Johnson).
Hou served on the juries that chose Agnieszka Polska as winner of the Preis der Nationalgalerie in 2017[8] and Otobong Nkanga for the Nasher Prize in 2024.