Spiral

Cultural Regions

Learn about the extraordinary range of places that comprise the greater Himalayan region—from misty valleys to snow-capped mountains.

March 2, 2025 12:00–4:00 PM LaGuardia Community College, C Building Losar Family Day: Celebrate the Year of the Wood Snake

Slither into the Year of the Wood Snake with your family and friends at this free community event hosted by the Rubin.

Mindfulness Meditation with Kimberly Brown

Theme: Lovingkindness

A sculpture of Durga Killing the Buffalo Demon

February 12, 2025 Take a Closer Look at Himalayan Art

The Rubin has teamed up with Smarthistory to bring audiences an “up-close” look at objects from the collection through a 15-episode video series.

Mindfulness Meditation with Tracy Cochran

Art Making

Art making in the greater Himalayan region is essentially religious in nature, often guided by iconometry or rules of proportion.

Theme: Intention

Mindfulness Meditation with Lavina Shamdasani

Theme: Intention

Himalayan Art Up Close: Four Mandalas of the Vajravali Cycle

Dr. Karl Debreczeny and Dr. Steven Zucker delve into one of the most important paintings in the Rubin’s collection—Four Mandalas of the Vajravali Cycle.

Himalayan Art Up Close: Stories of Previous Lives of the Buddha (Jataka)

Dr. Elena Pakhoutova and Dr. Beth Harris look at a thangka painting that illuminates the previous lives of the Buddha.

Himalayan Art Up Close: Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room

Dr. Elena Pakhoutova and Dr. Steven Zucker explore this treasure of the Rubin that displays art and ritual objects.

Himalayan Art Up Close: Green Tara

Dr. Karl Debreczeny and Dr. Beth Harris examine an exquisite sculpture of one of the many emanations of the revered goddess.

Mindfulness Meditation with Elaine Retholtz

Theme: Intention

Himalayan Art Up Close: Mountain God Kula Khari

Dr. Karl Debreczeny and Dr. Beth Harris introduce us to the fierce Mountain God Kula Khari.

Himalayan Art Up Close: Durga Killing the Buffalo Demon (Durga Mahisasuramardini)

Dr. Elena Pakhoutova and Dr. Beth Harris illuminate the story of the goddess Durga killing the demigod Mahisha.

Himalayan Art Up Close: Muted Expressions

The Rubin’s Executive Director Jorrit Britschgi and Dr. Steven Zucker examine the details of a powerful contemporary sculpture by Tsherin Sherpa.

Coming Up February 26, 2025 6:00–7:00 PM Virtual Friends of the Rubin Book Talk with Donald S. Lopez Jr.

Rubin Friends are invited to join Donald S. Lopez, Jr. for a book talk on the tulku institution in Tibetan Buddhism and its encounters with European explorers.

The Evolving Cultural Fabric of Nepal

Photograph by Neda Heffari titled "Shielding the Deities"

Exploring the history and impact of neo-cultural colonization

Contemporary Himalayan Life

Mindfulness Meditation with Kimberly Brown

Theme: Intention

Artist standing in front of painting, pointing and explaining the artwork to visitors

January 17, 2025 New Year, New Initiatives in Support of Himalayan Art

The Rubin announces a robust initial slate of exhibitions and initiatives for 2025.

Mindfulness Meditation with Kimberly Brown

Theme: Intention

Those Who Leave and Those Who Never Return

Image of "The Symmetrical Journey" by Riti Maharjan

How artists reflect the plight of Nepali migrant laborers

Contemporary Himalayan Life Activism Contemporary Art Forms

Museum visitor standing in front of Uber Rat sculpture by Shushank Shrestha at the "Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now" exhibition in Chicago

January 6, 2025 The Rubin Expands its Contemporary Collection

The Rubin has expanded its collection with the acquisition of contemporary artworks by Himalayan artists Tenzin Gyurmey Dorjee, Shraddha Shrestha, and Shushank Shrestha.