Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art

Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art The Rubin is a global museum dedicated to presenting Himalayan art and its insights
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The Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art is an arts oasis and cultural hub in New York City’s vibrant Chelsea neighborhood that inspires visitors to make powerful connections between contemporary life and the art and ideas of the Himalayas, India, and neighboring regions. With a diverse array of thought-provoking exhibitions and programs—including films, concerts, and on-stage conversations—the Rubin pro

vides immersive experiences that encourage personal discoveries and spark new ways of seeing the world. Emphasizing cross-cultural connections, the Rubin is a space to contemplate the big questions that extend across history and span human cultures.

06/01/2026

Across the Himalayas and the Buddhist world, Vesak is a time of celebration, remembrance, and reflection.

Butter lamps are lit, temples fill with offerings and prayer, and communities gather to honor the Buddha’s life and teachings.

As Vesak is observed this month, we’re reflecting on the enduring resonance of compassion, generosity, and mindfulness — values that continue to shape daily life and spiritual practice across cultures and generations.

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1. Life Story of Buddha Shakyamuni; Tibet; 19th century; Pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art, Gift of Shelley and Donald Rubin; C2006.66.164
2. Major Events of the Buddha's Life; Northeastern India; 12th century; "Andagu" stone with pigments; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2005.4.2
3. Buddha Shakyamuni; Sculpture: China; Throne: Central Tibet; Sculpture: 1403-1424; Throne: ca. 13th century; Gilt copper alloy; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2005.16.62a-c
4. Buddha Shakyamuni with Maitreya and Avalokiteshvara; Swat; 8th century; Bronze; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2006.71.10

Who is the guardian of Mount Everest? 🏔️In Himalayan traditions, mountains are often understood as living presences, eac...
05/29/2026

Who is the guardian of Mount Everest? 🏔️

In Himalayan traditions, mountains are often understood as living presences, each associated with a deity. One of them is Tseringma—the guardian of the world’s highest peak.

In this painting, she appears at the center, riding a white snow lion and holding a vajra (a ritual scepter symbolizing power) and a gold long-life vase. Around her are four other goddesses—each riding different animals and distinguished by vibrant colors. Together, they form the Five Sisters of Long Life, associated with longevity, protection, and the natural world. At the bottom center is Vaishravana, a guardian figure holding a victory banner and a mongoose, also riding a snow lion.

Tseringma is considered a “worldly deity,” meaning she remains connected to the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. In Tibetan Buddhist traditions, figures like Padmasambhava are said to have bound local deities like Tseringma to serve as protectors. Later, the yogi Milarepa is believed to have transmitted teachings to them, deepening their role in supporting practitioners.

Today, Tseringma is understood as both a mountain deity and a protector—one who helps practitioners navigate obstacles with strength and clarity.

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Goddess of Mount Everest; Tseringma; Tibet; 19th century; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Art; gift of the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation; F1996.10.2 (HAR 433)

NYC Educators: join the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art for a day of professional learning centered on mindfulness, creati...
05/28/2026

NYC Educators: join the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art for a day of professional learning centered on mindfulness, creativity, and compassion-centered education.

🗓️ June 4, 2026
🕘 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
📍 140 West 17th Street, NYC
🎟️ FREE

Your free ticket includes:
• A Social, Emotional, and Ethical (SEE) Learning® presentation led by a certified facilitator
• A mindful movement workshop in partnership with GROOVE NYC
• A behind-the-scenes glimpse at the Rubin’s Mandala Lab
• An experiential art workshop grounded in SEE Learning® principles
• Curriculum resources for teachers
• Complimentary refreshments

Reserve your free ticket now: https://rubinmuseum.org/professional-development-workshop-for-teachers-4/

Questions? Email [email protected]

📸 Filip Wolak; Christine Butler

05/26/2026

A doorway to home.

For her public art installation "About a Living Culture" in Jackson Heights, Queens, Nepalese artist IMAGINE (a.k.a. Sneha Shrestha) drew inspiration from the lattice windows, or ankhi jhyal, of Kathmandu and the repetition of the Nepali letter “Ka.” Repeated again and again, the form becomes meditative and an invitation to pause, reflect, and connect.

Installed at Diversity Plaza, the sculpture creates a moment of recognition for members of the Himalayan diaspora: a reflection of living culture carried across generations and geographies.

“My work speaks to the living culture of the Himalayan diaspora and the resilience of traditions that live far beyond museum walls. We are living, breathing people who practice this culture every day, and this is what it looks like now. At the heart of my practice is the belief that cultures across the world are not static, but resilient and evolving, with roots in centuries-old traditions that continue to shape how we find community today.” —IMAGINE

📍 Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights through September 13, 2026.

"About a Living Culture" is a NYC DOT Art Community Commission in partnership with the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art.

Video by Sandenwolff

A Day of Gratitude for All Teachers 🪷On the tenth day (tsechu) of each lunar month, Tibetan Buddhists around the world h...
05/25/2026

A Day of Gratitude for All Teachers 🪷

On the tenth day (tsechu) of each lunar month, Tibetan Buddhists around the world honor Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava—the "Lotus-Born Precious Teacher" credited with helping bring Buddhism from India to Tibet. This month Guru Rinpoche Day falls on May 26.

This Tibetan scroll painting (thangka) from our collection depicts Guru Rinpoche teaching in his pure land, the Copper-Colored Mountain. According to traditional accounts, after spreading Buddhism in Tibet, Guru Rinpoche journeyed to this sacred realm, where he continues teaching today.

On this Guru Rinpoche Day, join us in reflecting upon the supreme example of Guru Rinpoche and paying respects to the many manifestations of the "teacher" principle in our lives—including our educators, mentors, family, and friends.

Who are the “precious teachers” in your life?

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Padmasambhava in His Pure Realm, the Copper-Colored Mountain; Kham Province, eastern Tibet; 19th century; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; gift of the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation; F1997.8.2

05/21/2026

On this , pause, breathe, and reconnect.

Every Friday, the Rubin’s Mindfulness Meditation podcast pairs guided meditation with reflections inspired by Himalayan art from the Rubin's collection.

This month, host Tashi Chödrön explores the theme of awakening through weekly conversations and meditation practices designed to encourage reflection, compassion, and presence.

🎧 Listen and meditate with us wherever you listen to podcasts or on our website: https://rubinmuseum.org/spiral/mindfulness-meditation/

Can you identify an artist just by looking closely at a painting?A work in the Rubin’s collection sparked questions abou...
05/20/2026

Can you identify an artist just by looking closely at a painting?

A work in the Rubin’s collection sparked questions about authorship, style, and artistic inspiration.

Although an inscription attributes the painting to Situ Panchen (1700–1774), details in the inscription, materials, and brushwork point to a more complicated story of artistic inspiration and attribution.

By comparing stylistic clues, iconography, and technique, Senior Curator Karl Debreczeny traces how this image of Black Cloak Mahakala may have been inspired by the artistic legacy of the Tenth Karmapa, Choying Dorje (1604–1674).

Swipe through to follow the clues.

📖 Read the full article on Spiral: https://rubinmuseum.org/black-cloak-mahakala-wrathful-protector-deity/

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Situ Panchen; Black Cloak Mahakala; Kham Region, Eastern Tibet; 18th century; Pigments on silk; Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art; C2002.8.4

05/18/2026

Celebrate International Museum Day with Himalayan art. ✨

Now on view at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art through July 5, “Gateway to Himalayan Art” introduces the forms, meanings, and living traditions of Himalayan art through objects from the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art's collection.

Rage gets a bad reputation.“The opposite of love is not rage. The opposite of love is indifference.”According to Valarie...
05/14/2026

Rage gets a bad reputation.

“The opposite of love is not rage. The opposite of love is indifference.”

According to Valarie Kaur—social justice leader, lawyer, filmmaker, bestselling author, and founder of the Revolutionary Love Project—anger can be a form of care that protects what we love.

What if the question isn’t how to suppress rage…but how to understand it?

What is it trying to tell us? What happens when we give it space to move?

Swipe through for a different way of thinking about rage.

📖 Read more in Spiral: https://rubinmuseum.org/what-my-rage-showed-me/

Artwork by Twinz/Artists

What’s the difference between wrath and anger?“Anger is destructive, whereas enlightened wrath is protective and transfo...
05/12/2026

What’s the difference between wrath and anger?

“Anger is destructive, whereas enlightened wrath is protective and transformative.”

In this conversation with His Eminence Gegye Yongyal Tulku Rinpoche, anger is described as something rooted in negative emotions—something that leads to harm and suffering.

Wrath, on the other hand, isn’t driven by hatred or self-interest. It’s understood as a form of compassion—a force that protects, transforms, and helps remove obstacles.

Swipe through to explore how this distinction is understood in Buddhist traditions.

📖 Read more in Spiral: https://rubinmuseum.org/wrath-in-the-buddhist-tradition/

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Thursday 10am - 11am
11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 10pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 11am - 5pm

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