About Buddhist Art Gallery
The Buddhist Art Gallery in Kawajangsa, Thimphu, founded by master painter Kinzang Chojay in 2024, is a premier destination for Thangka art. It hosts one of Bhutan’s most extensive collections of contemporary Buddhist paintings by Bhutanese artists and is uniquely dedicated to classical Thangka paintings.
The gallery’s mission is to preserve and promote the cultural, historical, and aesthetic significance of Thangka art. Its exhibitions offer a window into the development of Buddhist painting and its adaptation to today’s dynamic art landscape.
In addition, the gallery provides a valuable platform for Bhutanese artists to display and promote their work, enhancing their public visibility. It also allows art enthusiasts and collectors to experience these remarkable creations. The gallery fosters a community where artists and art lovers can meet and engage.
The Buddhist Art Gallery hosts regular exhibitions reflecting market trends.
Master Kinzang Chojay
Kinzang Chojay, a highly respected 38-year-old Bhutanese artist, began his artistic journey at the prestigious Institute of Zorig Chusum, studying under Bhutan’s foremost painters. His extensive career includes hundreds of frescoes and thangkas in both private and public temples and monasteries throughout Bhutan.
His notable works adorn several significant sites, including the Druk Wangyel temple (Dochula), Namdroling Goenzin Dratshang (Autsho), Yongphula Lhakhang (eastern Bhutan), Pemaling temple (Gelephu), and Kurtoe shochen monastery. He has also collaborated with numerous Buddhist masters on high-profile art projects.
His Holiness the 70th Je Khenpo of Bhutan, Trulku Jigme Choeda, praised Kinzang Chojay’s work, stating in a letter of appreciation that his paintings are executed with “perfect symmetry and color combination,” adhering to the principles of divine painting and serving as a significant contribution to iconographic art.
Kinzang Chojay runs the Buddhist Art Gallery in Thimphu and Paro and exhibits his paintings in Taiwan, China, and Singapore. This solo exhibition in Bhutan-his first-showcases his most significant works from his 22-year career. Many are miniature versions of pieces already gracing Bhutanese monasteries, while others are being publicly unveiled for the first time.
The exhibition represents Kinzang Chojay’s artistic vision and should inspire those who appreciate the beauty and spirituality of Thangka paintings.