Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now

Contemplate and celebrate what Himalayan art means now with a Museum-wide exhibition of artworks by over 30 contemporary artists, many from the Himalayan region and diaspora and others inspired by Himalayan art and cultures.

On the occasion of the Rubin’s 20th anniversary, Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now transforms the entire Museum with commissions, some site-specific, and existing works juxtaposed with objects from the Museum’s collection, inviting new ways of encountering traditional Himalayan art.

Through a wide range of media, including painting, sculpture, sound, video, performance, and more, the artists explore their personal and collective histories and call attention to themes such as the fluidity of identity, spiritual practices, sense of belonging, grief, memory, and reclamation. The artists also offer critical and thoughtful commentary on issues facing humanity across time.

Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now is curated by Michelle Bennett Simorella, Director of Curatorial Administration & Collections at the Rubin Museum, with guest curators Roshan Mishra of Taragaon Next and Tsewang Lhamo of Yakpo Collective.

Contributing Artists

Amrit Karki

Bharat Rai

Bidhata KC

Charwei Tsai

Chitra Ganesh

Jasmine Rajbhandari

John Tsung

Jupiter Pradhan

Kabi Raj Lama

Kunsang Gyatso

Kunsang Kyirong

Losel Yauch

Lu Yang

Manish Lal Shrestha

Meena Kayastha

Monsal Pekar

Pema (Tintin) Tshering

Prithvi Shrestha

Roshan Pradhan

Salil Subedi

Shraddha Shrestha

Shushank Kalapremi Shrestha

IMAGINE (aka Sneha Shrestha)

Sonam Dolma Brauen

Tenzin Gyurmey Dorjee

Tenzin Mingyur Paldron

Tsherin Sherpa

Uma Bista

VAST Bhutan

Yangdzom Lama

Image credits

Meena Kayastha (b. 1977, Patan, Nepal); Goddess Varahi; 2023; traditional Nepali door, papier-mache, pliers, nails, coins, keys, jewelry, bell, discarded vehicle metal parts; 58 x 28 x 9 in.; photo courtesy of Meena Kayastha, Bhaktapur, Nepal.

Roshan Pradhan (b. 1977, Bhojpur Bazar, Nepal); New World; 2021; acrylic on canvas; 183 x 152.5 cm; photo courtesy of Sangeeta Thapa, Founder Director Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal.

Shushank Shrestha (b. 1993, Kathmandu, Nepal); Male Guardian Lion Dog (one of a pair from Two Guardian Lion Dogs); 2023; ceramic, in glaze lustre; 52 × 27 × 44 in.; photo courtesy of Shuhank Shrestha, Massachusetts, USA.

Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now’s campaign is underway and the supporter list is in formation.