Pema Rinzin Wings of Joy
Wings of Joy marked Pema Rinzin’s third solo exhibition with Joshua Liner Gallery, presenting thirteen new paintings that blend the precision of traditional Thangka painting with a contemporary visual language. Using ground mineral pigments, Sumi ink, and gold, Rinzin’s work explored the symbolism of birds as messengers of joy, peace, and Tibetan identity. Rich in spiritual and political meaning, the works serve as meditations on the resilience of the Tibetan people and the universal desire for freedom and inspiration.
Born in Tibet in 1966 and raised in Dharamsala, India, Pema Rinzin is a master of traditional Thangka painting whose practice bridges classical Tibetan techniques and Western modernist influences. He was the first Tibetan artist-in-residence at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York and later founded the New York Tibetan Art Studio to preserve and teach Thangka traditions. Rinzin’s work is held in major collections, including those of the H.H. Dalai Lama and the Rubin Museum, and his exhibitions span internationally across Asia, Europe, and the United States.
Wings of Joy 2, 2016, Sumi ink, ground mineral pigments, gold on canvas, 72 x 60 inches (182.9 x 152.4 cm)
Bird Mandala (Blue), 2014, Ground mineral pigments, gold. and Sumi Ink on canvas, 40 x 40 inches (101.6 x 101.6 cm)
Peace Booom 1, 2015, Ground mineral pigments, gold, natural dye, gold and copper leaf, acrylic, on canvas, 40 x 58 inches (101.6 x 147.3 cm)
Bird Mandala (Orange), 2016, Sumi ink, ground mineral pigment, natural dye, gold on canvas, 40 x 40 inches (101.6 x 101.6 cm)
Birds in Moon1, 2016, Ground mineral pigments, sumi ink, gouache, 20 x 14 inches (50.8 x 35.6 cm)
Bird Mandala (Purple), 2016, Sumi ink, ground mineral pigments, natural dye, gold on canvas, 40 x 40 inches (101.6 x 101.6 cm)