He initially studied music at the Art Academy of Leningrad in what is now once again Saint Petersburg, Russia but soon fell under the spell of the canvases of sunsets by Vincent van Gogh and decided that he wanted to paint.
He is represented by the Van Der Plas gallery in New York City and also installs works on his own initiative at various locations in his home neighborhood of Washington Heights.
Bokov's work has been exhibited at the Now Gallery alongside that of Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat.
Most recently he had a solo exhibition at the Van Der Plas Gallery in concert with his 80th birthday titled "Another Man's Treasure for All to Behold".
[4] Bokov is the subject of the 2012 documentary "Free" written and directed by Mark Lechner.