Dr. Sarika Singh is perhaps the first Indian female master painter and teacher in the Buddhist tradition of Thangka Painting.[1] [2] Born on 13 August 1976, in New Delhi, she began her studies in the art of Thangka painting, in 1996, at the prestigious Norbulingka Institute in Dharamshala, Northern India under the tutelage of her master, Tempa Choephel. In the year 2015, she completed her Master’s degree in ‘Buddhist and Tibetan Studies’ from Punjab University, and ‘PhD’ from Central University of Himachal Pradesh in the year 2021.
Along with her husband Master Locho, one of the finest Master Thangka painters in the world, Singh co-founded the ‘Center for Living Buddhist Art’ and 'Thangde Gatsal Thangka Studio' in 2001. In 2019, they established the Himalayan Art Museum which connects us to the rich cultural heritage of India and Tibet. The museum aims to generate awareness about the Buddhist art through contemporary quality thangka works based on the tradition carried forward by Indian and Tibetan masters. This museum is a window to the 2,300 years old journey of the tradition of Buddhist paintings and the evolution of art through ages and geographies. The museum exhibits the finest master pieces created by Locho and Singh.
Thangka Painting Contributions
Thangde Gatsal Studio : Teaching
Cultural Contributions
Recognitions and awards
Workshops and Residencies
2007 | Visiting Artist, The Jacques Marchais Tibetan Museum, Tibet Festival, Staten Island, New York, USA | |
2004 | Visiting Artist, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, USA | |
2000 | Artist Workshop, Graz, Austria |
Exhibitions and Commissions
2010 Exhibition coinciding with the Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
2008 Exhibition coinciding with the Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Sydney, Australia
Exhibition coinciding with the Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, London, United Kingdom
2007 Featured Artist, Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, New Zealand
Featured Artist, Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Germany
Featured Artist, Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, New York, USA
Featured Artist, Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
2006 Featured Artist, Teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, New York, New York, USA
2005 Official backdrop Paintings, Shantideva Teachings, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Commissioned by Arizona Teachings, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, USA
Exhibition coinciding with the Shantideva Teachings, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tucson, Arizona, USA
2003 Radiant Transmission: Contemporary Masterpieces of Tibetan Buddhist Art, October Gallery, London, United Kingdom
2002 Official backdrop paintings, Kālachakra Initiation Ceremony for World Peace, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, commissioned by the She Drup Ling Buddhist Centre, Graz, Austria.
Exhibition coinciding with the Kālachakra Initiation Ceremony for World Peace, Graz, Austria
Publications
· Singh, S. (2020). Painting Thangkas: Depicting Morality. Artos, 9 (Url: http://www.uaos.unios.hr/artos/index.php/hr/thangka-slikarstvo/singh-
· Singh, S. (2020). Image and Imagery: Making Buddha. Artos, 9. (Url: http://www.uaos.unios.hr/artos/index.php/hr/thangka-slikarstvo/singh-making-buddha)