Rubin Museum of Art

Last week, our co-founder Shelley Frost Rubin shared the following statement about the future of the Museum: “Building and sharing this collection of Himalayan art was one of my family’s great joys. Creating a museum was a life-changing moment. While it has been a privilege to welcome visitors to the Rubin in New York over the last 20 years, our anniversary inspired reflection on how we can achieve the greatest possible impact well into the future. The result is the firm belief that a more expansive model will allow us to best serve our mission – not changing ‘why’ we share Himalayan art with the world, but ‘how’ we do it. Bold change has always been in the Rubin’s DNA, and we are excited to embrace what our future as a global museum has to offer.” Learn more about our future in a letter from Jorrit Britschgi, executive director, at the link in our bio.

The Art Newspaper’s (@theartnewspaper.official ) Ruth Lopez writes about the Rubin’s future as a global museum. “After 20 years focused on its Chelsea headquarters, the museum will send its collections and initiatives on the road…In many respects, the Rubin has already implemented its global vision. For the 2022 Venice Biennale, it provided lead support for the inaugural Nepal pavilion. Earlier that year, it returned an artefact in its collection when it was discovered that it had been looted from Itumbaha, one of the oldest monasteries in Kathmandu…The Rubin also successfully recreated the Mandala Lab, a fixture of its New York space, as an interactive installation in a park in Bilbao—further proof that the museum can create projects for public spaces. 'We have been able to reach people who wouldn’t typically enter a museum and make them familiar with our work and what we stand for,' [Rubin director Jorrit] Britschgi says.” Read the full story at the link in our bio. ______ 📸 Installation view of the Rubin’s Mandala Lab, London (September 16 – November 25, 2023), presented as part of the London Design Festival 2023. Photo by Ed Reeve, courtesy of the Rubin Museum of Art / London Design Festival 📸 Installation view of the Rubin Museum’s Gateway to Himalayan Art at Lehigh University Art Galleries (January 31 – May 26, 2023). Photo by Ryan Hulvat, courtesy of Lehigh University Art Galleries 📸 The Rubin Museum’s Project Himalayan Art digital platform 📸 Installation view of the Pavilion of Nepal at the 59th International Art Exhibition, La Biennale di Venezia, 2022. Photo: Riccardo Tosetto, courtesy of Tsherin Sherpa and Rossi & Rossi

Over the last several years, the Rubin has piloted new ways of reaching people: pursuing projects from Bilbao to Boston, from Kathmandu to Venice, and launching major resources and digital programs to learn about Himalayan art. We’ve been encouraged by the people we’ve reached through these endeavors and the support from those who share our vision to bring Himalayan art to people wherever they are. We have decided to pursue the model of being a global museum, serving the public locally, nationally and internationally. In light of this new direction, last week we announced that we will close our NYC building this fall, and become a museum without walls. The last day to visit us in person will be Oct 6, 2024. While this change means letting go of our physical space in pursuit of a new model, our mission to advance the appreciation and understanding of Himalayan art globally remains as strong as ever: • We will continue to care for, study, and share our collection as an anchor of our initiatives. • We are building the next generation of leaders, scholars, and enthusiasts of Himalayan art with Project Himalayan Art: an educational resource for universities which includes a traveling exhibition, a publication, and an online platform with curricula. • We are travelling Rubin exhibitions and experiences nationally and internationally. Our Mandala Lab will open in Milan in March after successful runs in Bilbao in 2022 and London in 2023. More locations are planned, reaching thousands of people through public festivals, parks and more. • We are launching the Rubin Himalayan Art Prize to support contemporary artists inspired by traditional Himalayan art. • We are building a program to strengthen the representation of Himalayan art around the world through long term object loans and a grants program. • We are partnering with individuals and institutions in the Himalayan region, building on collaborations thus far and providing greater visibility for the vibrant art scenes in the region. • We are looking for a new home for the Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room in NYC. Learn more about our future from Jorrit Britschgi, executive director, at the link in our bio.

There are still three months left to visit beautiful works like this one on view in our 17th Street building before it closes on October 6, 2024! This Bhutanese work depicts Palden Lhamo (Sanskrit: Shri Devi), who is among the primary protector deities of Tibetan Buddhism. Here she is shown in her “smoke-clad” form (Dusolma) riding a white-nosed donkey, and surrounded by flames and billowing clouds of smoke. Her emaciated form is suggested by her sunken chest and gaunt limbs. To her left and right and below her are members of her retinue, which includes three mounted ferocious female attendants. Each of these frightening figures holds a skull cup and heart in her hands. At the top center is the Bhutanese Drukpa School hierarch Shabdrung Ngagwang Namgyal (1594–1651), who was also founder of the Bhutanese theocratic state. See this work on view in our exhibition “Masterworks: A Journey through Himalayan Art,” on the fifth floor of the Museum. As we celebrate 20 years of sharing our collection of Himalayan art, we invite you to follow along as we highlight other fan-favorite objects from the Museum’s collection. While this anniversary year also marks the Rubin’s farewell to the 17th Street building, we’re still committed to sharing our renowned collection with an ever-growing, global audience through traveling exhibitions, long-term loans with other organizations, multimedia content, and so much more. ________ Pelden Lhamo Dusolma; Bhutan; 19th century; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Art, Gift of the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation; F1996.11.4 (HAR 440) #himalayanart #tibetanbuddhism #paldenlhamo #RubinMuseum

This month’s #ArtistInFocus video from @rubinmuseum highlights artist IMAGINE (a.k.a. Sneha Shrestha). In the Rubin’s exhibition, “Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now,” Nepalese artist IMAGINE (@imagine876 ) presents a multi-room, immersive art installation. This installation features a prominent brass sculpture and juxtaposes new artworks with Nepalese ritual objects from the Rubin’s collection. Through her work, she questions the spiritual integrity of Nepalese ritual objects displayed in Western museums.   Go inside the powerful installation and watch IMAGINE share inspirations for her work at the link in our bio. #ReimagineRubin is on view in our 17th Street building through October 6, 2024. 🎥: @sandenwolff #ReimagineRubin #himalayanart #contemporaryartist

In this month’s #HimalayanArtUpClose video, Rubin Museum senior curator Dr. Elena Pakhoutova and Smarthistory’s (@smarthistory_official ) Dr. Steven Zucker examine a painting that celebrates old age. The Newars—one of the traditional inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal—hold rituals for elders who reach the age of 77 years, 7 months, and 7 weeks. Watch to find out how this painting represents the significance of this specific age. Visit the link in our bio to watch the full video! The Rubin Museum of 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 in #HimalayanArtUpClose . Keep following us for a new video each month! #newar #himalayanart #nepal #kathmanduvalley

Happy #NYCPride ! Today, in celebration of the NYC Pride March, we are taking a look at how fluidity of gender is highlighted in our exhibition "Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now." This work on view in the exhibition by Ngawang Tenzin depicts Manjughoksha, another name for Manjushri, a bodhisattva in Tibetan Buddhism. Manjushri, or “Soft Voice,” is typically depicted as yellow or golden in color, riding a lion, and with his hand in the teaching mudra. When #ReimagineRubin artist Tenzin Mingyur Paldron (@doctenzin ) came out as transgender to their father, he replied by recognizing the gender fluidity of enlightened figures in Tibetan Buddhist art, like Manjushri. Tenzin Mingyur Paldron speaks about his coming out, and this artwork by Tibetan artist Ngawang Tenzin, in the video "The Gentle Buddha Who Cuts Through Ignorance and Duality (Coming Out Trans to My Father)," also on view in #ReimagineRubin . Scroll down to watch the full video on our profile. __________ Ngawang Tenzin; "Manjughoksha;" 2022; bead and thread, framed in wood; courtesy of the artist Installation view of “Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now” presented by the Rubin Museum of Art, March 15 – October 6, 2024. Photo by Dave De Armas. #manjushri #fluidity #himalayanart #RubinMuseum

Stop by the Rubin for your Friday happy hours this summer! Starting today, we’re offering a 2-for-1 drink special from 6:00–7:00 PM as part of our K2 Friday Nights! Take advantage of our drink special PLUS free admission every Friday! Don’t miss your chance to experience our K2 Friday Nights before our 17th Street building closes on October 6. Reserve your tickets today at the link in our bio. Walk-up tickets are also available. 📸: Filip Wolak (@filipwolak ) #nychappyhour #fridaynight #drinkspecials #nycmuseum #thingstodonyc

Only one month left to see the @rubinmuseum ’s “Gateway to Himalayan Art” at Harn Museum of Art (@harnmuseumofart ) in Florida! “Gateway to Himalayan Art” is a traveling exhibition for colleges and universities, based on the Rubin Museum of Art’s cornerstone exhibition of the same name that introduces the main forms, concepts, meanings, and traditions of Himalayan art. If you’re in Gainesville, Florida, make sure to visit “Gateway” before it closes on July 28th! 📸: Harn Museum of Art #himalayanart #travelingexhibition #tibetanbuddhism

Looking for a new podcast? Tune in every week for a new episode of our Mindfulness Meditation podcast! Our Mindfulness Meditation podcast is a recording of our weekly in-person program, and each session is inspired by a different work of art from the Rubin Museum’s collection. Last week's episode was inspired by this work depicting Dipamkara, known as the Buddha of the Previous Age, or the age prior to the time of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni. Dipamkara is often remembered as the buddha who predicted Shakyamuni’s future enlightenment. Around the seventeenth century, Dipamkara’s rituals were popularized by Nepalese Buddhists, who considered him the patron deity of merchants and alms giving. Dipamkara is widely worshiped in Nepal but is rarely found in other regions of the Himalayas. The celebration illustrated in the painting takes place at the Swayambhunath Stupa of Kathmandu, which is depicted above the central figure. The Mindfulness Meditation podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. _________ Dipamkara Buddha; Nepal; dated by inscription 1853; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Art, Gift of the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation; F1997.17.23(HAR 100023) #buddha #mindfulnessmeditation #podcast #tibetanbuddhism #himalayanart #RubinMuseum

This month, inspired by the Rubin’s exhibition “Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now,” we further invite new ways of encountering traditional Himalayan art through a collaboration with VAST Bhutan (@vastbhutan ) on our social feeds. This contemporary artwork by Sangay Phuntsho was a part of VAST Bhutan’s past exhibition “Portraiture in Earth Colors,” a fusion of tradition and modernity in stunning portraits crafted from natural materials by 32 different local artists. In “Guru Dorje Drolo,” the artist explores one of the forms of Guru Rinpoche:”Guru Dorje Drolo is one of the forms of Guru Rinpoche- a revered figure in Buddhism. He appears in a fierce form to tame evil spirits. Standing on a roaring tiger, he shows his control over the heavens and earth. With one hand up and one down, he symbolizes his power over both realms. His face reflects both wisdom and wrath.” Phuntsho’s contemporary work draws parallels with this work depicting Dorje Drolo from the Rubin’s collection. Want to see more from VAST Bhutan? Visit the Rubin to see founder Asha Kama Wangdi’s work, “The Windhorse (Lungta),” on view in “Reimagine: Himalayan Art Now” until October 6, 2024. _______ Dorje Drolo, One of the Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava; Tibet or Bhutan; 19th century; textile applique; Rubin Museum of Art; C2004.14.5 (HAR 65336) #dorjedrolo #gururinpoche #himalayanart #RubinMuseum

Collection highlight! As we celebrate 20 years of sharing our collection of Himalayan art, we invite you to follow along as we highlight fan-favorite objects from the Museum’s collection. This fearsome Mahakala, or the Great Black One, manifests the emotion that a mother might have to protect her child from danger. Surrounded by flames of pristine awareness he holds his usual attributes—a curved knife and skull cup, human skull garland and trident, hand drum and lasso—and tramples obstacles represented by the prone figure of an elephant-headed god. This is a form of the peaceful deity of compassion Avalokiteshvara; deities often have varied forms in order to express different characteristics and abilities. While this anniversary year also marks the Rubin’s farewell to the 17th Street building, we’re still committed to sharing our renowned collection with an ever-growing, global audience through traveling exhibitions, long-term loans with other organizations, multimedia content, and so much more. ________ Six-Armed Mahakala; Tibet; 15th century; pigments on cloth; Rubin Museum of Art; C2002.34.4 (HAR 65165) #mahakala #tibetanbuddhism #himalayanart #RubinMuseum