Honolulu Museum of Art

HoMA PRESENTS EXHIBITION OF WORK BY ACCLAIMED NEPALESE ARTIST TSHERIN SHERPA

Sherpa mixes traditional Himalayan Buddhist art symbols and styles with contemporary concepts and techniques to address issues such as migration in paintings, sculptures and textiles

WHAT: Divine Disruption: The Art of Tsherin Sherpa
WHEN: May 30, 2026-January 31, 2027
WHERE: Honolulu Museum of Art, 900 S Beretania St., 808-532-8700

HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I—This spring the Honolulu Museum of Art presents Divine Disruption: The Art of Tsherin Sherpa. On view from May 30, 2026, to January 31, 2027, this major solo exhibition traces Sherpa’s remarkable journey from the sacred painting workshops of Nepal to the international art world. The exhibition is co-organized by HoMA and the Seattle Art Museum, which have two of the leading collections of Asian art in the US and are in cities with rich immigrant cultures and populations. The show will travel to the Seattle Art Museum where it will be on view from March 3 through October 3, 2027.

Tsherin Sherpa. Flying High, 2019. Collection of Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond, Aldine S. Hartman Endowment Fund and Eric and Jeanette Lipman Fund, 2021.65

Featuring more than 20 works, including paintings, sculptures and a carpet, the exhibition highlights both well-known artworks that established Sherpa as a significant voice in the world of contemporary art alongside newly created works on public view for the first time. Across these works, Sherpa boldly explores the complexities of some of the most pressing social issues of the 21st century. In Fly High and Spirits (Metamorphosis), for example, he examines migration and ways in which traditional cultures respond to the challenges and opportunities of internationalization. Through vibrant imagery, powerful symbolism and narratives shaped by migration and transformation, Sherpa’s art invites reflection on how people—and the beliefs they carry—adapt to an ever-changing world.

“Tsherin Sherpa is among the most exciting of today’s artists bridging Asian and Contemporary art, and his artwork has a powerful relevance to contemporary social issues. His paintings and sculptures embody an empathy that aligns perfectly with HoMA’s vision to “deepen our connection with one another and the world we share,” says Shawn Eichman, HoMA’s curator of Asian art and co-curator of Divine Disruption.

A contemporary vision rooted in an ancient tradition
Born in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 1968 to a Tibetan father and Nepalese mother, Tsherin Sherpa was raised in a culturally and spiritually rich home. His father, Urgen Dorje, was among Nepal’s most respected traditional Buddhist painters, and Sherpa was trained in the exacting iconography of Himalayan thangka painting. Yet from an early age, Sherpa was also immersed in Kathmandu’s international atmosphere, exposed not only to centuries-old Buddhist culture but also to the growing influx of global seekers, pop aesthetics, mass-produced sacred images, Indian cinema posters, and comic-book heroes. These converging influences formed the foundation of an artistic sensibility that would later blossom into a bold and original reimagining of Himalayan visual culture for the 21st century.

Migration, identity, and contemporary relevance
Sherpa’s personal journey—from Nepal to Taiwan to California—profoundly shapes his work. After initially leaving the traditional art world to study computer science, he returned to painting while living as an immigrant in the United States. Grappling with dislocation, cultural fluidity, and the search for belonging, Sherpa began weaving pop-culture references, news media imagery, and the emotional realities of migration into the established visual language of Himalayan Buddhist art.

About the artist
Tsherin Sherpa (b. 1968, Kathmandu) is internationally celebrated for transforming the visual language of Himalayan art to address the complexities of modern life. His work has been featured in global exhibitions and major institutions, including the Venice Biennale, and is recognized for its profound blend of tradition, innovation, and emotional resonance.

Exhibition organization and funding
Divine Disruption: The Art of Tsherin Sherpa is organized by the Honolulu Museum of Art and the Seattle Art Museum.

National support for this for this exhibition has been provided by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation.

The Honolulu Museum of Art presentation of this exhibition is provided by Sharon Twigg-Smith, the Vilcek Foundation, and Ruedi Thoeni and David Franklin.

Images available on request.

About the Honolulu Museum of Art

The Honolulu Museum of Art is Hawai‘i’s premier art institution, inspiring and uplifting the community through transformative art experiences. Founded in 1927 to reflect Hawai‘i’s multicultural makeup, today HoMA’s extraordinary collection of more than 55,000 works of art from across the globe spans 5,000 years.

Through its collection, innovative exhibitions, and programs, the museum is able to tell stories relevant to Hawai‘i and the world at large. It serves as a gathering place of learning and discovery, where visitors can encounter new ideas, explore diverse perspectives, develop empathy, and contribute to their well-being through art. Home to an art school, Honolulu’s last art house theater, two cafes, and a shop—just 10 minutes from Waikīkī—HoMA is a vital part of Hawai‘i’s cultural landscape committed to access for all.

Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday 10am–6pm; Friday 10am–9pm

Admission: Adults $25; residents $15; free for youth 18 and under; free for SNAP beneficiaries and college students enrolled at any Hawai‘i state university or college.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Jan. 29, 2026

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HoMA PRESENTS EXHIBITION OF WORK BY ACCLAIMED NEPALESE ARTIST TSHERIN SHERPA

About the Honolulu Museum of Art

Communications: 808-532-8712