Artlog

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The Rubin Museum of Art opened on October 4, 2004. It is the first museum in the Western World dedicated to the art of the Himalayas and surrounding regions.

The museum’s mission is to establish, present, preserve and document a permanent collection that reflects the vitality, complexity and historical significance of Himalayan art.

The collection consists of paintings, sculptures, and textiles. Although works of art range in date over two millennia, most reflect major periods and schools of Himalayan art from the 12th century onward.

The exhibitions are organized with particular care to assist viewers who are new to Himalayan art. Wall texts and interpretive panels supply aesthetic, social, and historical perspectives to both scholars and casual viewers. The ExploreArt Galleries on the 3rd and 5th floors (with a video alcove on the 6th floor) take the viewer behind the scenes, answering questions about why and for whom the art was made. Books, paintings, photographs, artifacts, and computer terminals accessing the Museum’s website and affiliated sites offer other examples of Himalayan and related art.