About Us
Namaste.
Our art school hosts a team of artists specialized in Tibetan Thangka paintings, Newari Paubha, Buddhist and Hindu Mandalas and traditional Himalayan masks. Guiding our mission is the belief that art plays an important social role, especially here in Nepal, and traditional ancient arts must be preserved. By opening our school and shop to the internet we want to promote and share what we love to teach and practice.
Thank you to Crystal for this video (shot before the Earthquakes of 2015).
The School
Our Thangka Painting School is 20 years old and our community of artists and artisans live in the ancient temple village of Changu Narayan, near Bhaktapur, Nepal. Our village is well known because of its artistic, religious and historical significance since the 3rd century AD and it is listed as UNESCO world heritage site.
The main goal of our art school is to offer the space and creative environment where students can learn, help the artists and artisans to support their families and consequently to preserve our cultural, spiritual and artistic heritage.We have more than 30 students and experienced artists and several masters that collaborate with us.
Most of our families are farmers living in remote areas of Nepal with little income. The houses of our relatives were damaged or destroyed as our thangka workshop during the earthquakes of 2015 and since then we are recovering. We almost completed the new space for the artists and we must thank all the people that ordered artworks on our website during these difficult years.
A generous part of the profit coming from this website is used to support the students, contribute to help our community and sponsoring volunteering projects in Changunarayan.
The Shop
The art of creating thangka paintings and masks representing Gods, Goddesses, Bodhisattvas, Buddhas, mandalas and symbols should be intended as a form of meditation. The importance of each step to create such artworks is crucial and we approach the creation of our works of art according the traditional techniques, with dedication and spiritual devotion.
We don’t sell cheap quality paintings or prints because it is our opinion that there is a value in the art that we practice that is sacred.
By visiting our online thangka store and gallery you will find wide range of Tibetan Mandala, Hindu and Buddhist thangka paintings, Newari Paubas as well as beautiful hand-crafted Himalayan Masks.
Select your favorite size, color and quality to check the prices and contact us is you would like to commission your preferred design or a specific artwork that is not listed in our catalog. We are happy to make it for you.
Our Talented Artists and Students
After the earthquakes of April 2015 our school was severely damaged and many artists lost their houses. In order to help our community we decided to co-fund a local NGO (more info at kaygarnay.org) and invited several young and talented women to join our team of artists, giving them the opportunity to contribute supporting their families. This was possible also because of the success of this website and the contribution and fondness of many.
Muna, Sangita and Laxmi
Urmila, Rita and Nira
Sharmila, Saraswati and Sarita with her daughter
The Teachers and Master Artists
A thangka painter is considered to be a Master only after five years of constant practice. The youngest master artist at Sunapati Thangka School have been practicing this art for more than ten years and we work with some of the best thangka painters in the world having more than 40 years of experience.
Masters Buddha Lama, Kamal Bhujel and Ram Shrestha
Masters Mira Bhujel, Sanjaya Bhujel and Thula Lama
Master wood carvers Furba Lama and mask painter Maya Tamang with her two daughters
Our works of art are authentic and original decorative elements for living spaces, meditation rooms and yoga studios.
We accept commissions of custom paintings and personalized designed thangkas, mandalas and wooden masks according to our clients needs and preferences. We guarantee 100% satisfaction and, because we are not re-sellers, we can offer the best prices online.
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Kalachakra Mandala Auspicious Symbols
From: $65.00From: $50.00 -
Ganesh Mask Design #02
From: $55.00From: $45.00 -
Universe Om Mandala
From: $45.00From: $35.00 -
Five Jambhala Thangka
From: $750.00From: $630.00
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Kalachakra Mandala
From: $55.00From: $48.00 -
Silk Frame #02
From: $28.00 -
Samatha Meditation Thangka
From: $78.00 -
Modern Design Brocades
From: $38.00 -
Sri Yantra Mandala
From: $55.00 -
Yin Yang Mantra Mandala
From: $45.00