Image of the Himalayan mountains
Cultural Regions
Learn about the extraordinary range of places that comprise the greater Himalayan region—from misty valleys to snow-capped mountains.
Art Making
Art making in the greater Himalayan region is essentially religious in nature, often guided by iconometry or rules of proportion.
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.
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.
some men go to Mars, others pay attention to the Earth
What a story from the past can teach us about the present
A New Chapter for the Rubin
As the Rubin Museum celebrates its 20th anniversary, it ushers in a new chapter as a global museum
Half-length portrait of woman in blue shirt with artworks in background.
Bidhata K C
Nepalese artist Bidhata K C finds inspiration in the centuries-old artistic traditions of her native country to create striking images of contemporary narratives.
Figure crouching down, holding a hammer near a large piece of art.
Pema “Tintin” Tshering
Bhutanese artist Pema “Tintin” Tshering’s work examines abstract intangible Buddhist philosophies and how they manifest in everyday life.
Artist Sonam Dolma Brauen makina a tsatsa out of clay.
The Making of Field of Wishes
See how Sonam Dolma Brauen's personally significant installation came together.
Aerial image of the Mandala Lab in Milan.
The Mandala Lab Travels to Milan
Watch highlights from the Mandala Lab's stay at the cultural park BAM – Biblioteca degli Alberi Milano in Milan, Italy, where it welcomed over 40,000 visitors from March 24 through April 21, 2024.
IMAGINE (a.k.a. Sneha Shrestha)
Nepalese artist IMAGINE (a.k.a. Sneha Shrestha) created a multi-room, immersive art installation, which juxtaposes new artworks with objects from the Rubin’s collection.
Inside the Exhibition Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now
Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now is a contemporary group exhibition of 32 artists from the Himalayas, Asia, and diaspora whose artworks are presented alongside objects from the Rubin Museum’s collection.
Asha Kama Wangdi
Bhutanese artist Asha Kama Wangdi discusses his monumental installation, The Windhorse (lungta), as part of the Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now exhibition.

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