Lama Tashi Norbu

Lama Tashi Norbu is a Buddhist monk and multidisciplinary artist whose work investigates the spiritual journey of the human being, the connection with nature and the challenges of modern life.

Born in Bhutan, Tibet, in 1974 Tashi grew up in Dharamsala, India. His childhood was spent in Tibetan monasteries living with Buddhist rituals and where he studied at the Institute of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA)/Traditional Thangka Painting. His name Tashi Norbu was given to him by Namkhai Nyingpo Rinpoche, considered one of the legendary and sacred Sky Dancers of Tibet.

Among many other achievements, Tashi was a Thangka painter under the residence of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Recognized for his gifts, he was sent to Europe to study art at the Academy of Visual Arts of Saint Luke in Ghent, Belgium, where he developed an integrative vision between Western and Eastern culture, mixing traditional and modern elements, in support of Tibetan culture.

More than 20 years ago he obtained Belgian citizenship and lives between the Netherlands and the United States. His practice includes painting, drawing, sculpture, monumental installations and performances, weaving intimacy and universality with personal and collective stories. Following his belief that being a Tibetan Buddhist monk is a distinctive path for an artist, Tashi uses his work to deepen the understanding of Buddhism, help people recognize its inherent virtues, and alleviate the sufferings of all sentient beings. His paintings, rich in magical tales and vibrant imagery, offer insights into the life qualities of Tibetan Buddhism and the importance of their preservation for future generations. Tashi’s commitment extends beyond art and spirituality, achieving a transgressive vision in which he combines meditation, yoga, live painting performances, sand mandala creations, mantras and tattooing sacred Tibetan art on people based on their astrological charts.

Tashi is the founder and creative director of the only registered Tibetan Museum in the world, the Museum of Contemporary Tibetan Art (MoCTA) based in Emmen, Netherlands. His global activities and support for women's rights in Tibet highlight his dedication to compassion and service.

His work has been exhibited in various galleries and museums such as 20th Anniversary, Trace Foundation in collaboration with the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA), Art With Me Festival Miami, Florida Museum and Gandhi Museum Bihar/India, among others.

As part of his activism in the expansion of Tibetan art around the world, one of his current aims and major projects is to open a museum of Tibetan art in the United States, ratifying his interest in human rights, peace, environmental awareness and expansion of well-being.

For more information on Lama Tashi Norbu, visit his website here.