Often called the “heart of the Rubin,” the Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room displays art and ritual objects as they would in a private household shrine—a space used for offerings, devotional prayer, rituals, and contemplation. Explore this treasure of the Museum with Senior Curator Dr. Elena Pakhoutova and Dr. Steven Zucker of Smarthistory.
The Shrine Room was on view at the Rubin until the Museum’s closing on October 6, 2024, and will open in June 2025 in a custom space at the Brooklyn Museum as part of a long-term partnership between the two institutions.
The Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art has teamed up with Smarthistory to bring you an ‘up-close’ look at select objects from the Rubin’s preeminent collection of Himalayan art. Featuring conversations with senior curators and close-looking at art, this video series is an accessible introduction to the art and material culture of the Tibetan, Himalayan, and Inner Asian regions. Learn about the living traditions and art-making practices of the Himalayas from the past to today.
Learn more:
This video was produced in partnership with Smarthistory.
Photo by Dave de Armas
Elena Pakhoutova is senior curator, Himalayan art, at the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art and holds a PhD in Asian art history from the University of Virginia. She has curated several exhibitions at the Rubin, including Death Is Not the End (2023), The Power of Intention: Reinventing the (Prayer) Wheel (2019), and The Second Buddha: Master of Time (2018). More →
Dr. Steven Zucker is co-founder and executive director of Smarthistory. Previously, Steven was dean of art and history at Khan Academy. He was chair of history of art and design at Pratt Institute where he strengthened enrollment and lead renewal of curriculum across the Institute. Previously, he was dean of the School of Graduate Studies at the Fashion Institute of Technology, SUNY and chair of art history. He has taught at The School of Visual Arts, Hunter College, and at The Museum of Modern Art. Dr. Zucker is a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has co-authored, with Dr. Beth Harris, numerous articles on the future of education and the future of museums. Dr. Zucker received his Ph.D. from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York.
Brooklyn Museum
Brooklyn, NY
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