What does the label “Contemporary Tibetan Art” mean?  Defining the traditional art of Tibet seems more straightforward: more often than not, traditional paintings and sculptures were created on the Tibetan plateau for Buddhist practice.  But today, with the exile Tibetan community spread across the globe, the definition of Tibetan art has expanded.  Tibetan artists working internationally are exploring issues of identity, place, and politics.  The traditional forms of the Buddha or mandala are transformed; they are often sacred in form, but not necessarily in function.  My lecture discusses the works of Tenzing Rigdol, Karma Phuntsok, Gonkar Gyatso, and others as a starting point for a dialogue about the many definitions of Contemporary Tibetan Art.

This lecture will be at the Chancery Art Space, 1120 Lincoln Street Suite 150. The current exhibition is Karma and Faith: The Artwork of Karma Phuntsok and Faith Stone. For the art space website, click here.