RENUKA RAI | Thimphu
Bhutanese contemporary artist Pem Lham has been named the recipient of the 2026 Rubin Museum Himalayan Art Prize, becoming the first Bhutanese artist to receive the international award.
The USD 30,000 (around Nu 2.5 million) unrestricted cash prize was presented to Pem Lham at an award ceremony held at VAST Bhutan in Thimphu on 11 September by Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen.
Established in 2024, the Rubin Museum Himalayan Art Prize is awarded annually to living artists and collectives who contribute to creative and critical dialogue between Himalayan art and contemporary life. The prize is among the significant international awards supporting contemporary artists connected to the Himalayan region.
The event was jointly organised by VAST Bhutan and the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art.
Accepting the award, Pem Lham said the recognition was meaningful because she had followed the Rubin Museum’s work in celebrating Himalayan art for many years.
“As artists, there are moments when we wonder if our stories are reaching anyone, but this prize is a reminder that our voices matter and that there are always people connecting with the work we create,” she said.
She said the award would support her future research, experimentation and projects, while also hoping it would encourage other Bhutanese artists to continue creating.
Pem Lham is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores folklore, gender, identity, memory and the relationship between inherited narratives and contemporary experiences.
A central part of her artistic practice is her long-term exploration of “Molay,” a spirit girl from Bhutanese mask dance traditions. Through reimagining Molay as a contemporary figure, she explores themes of womanhood, power and belonging.
Her Majesty the Gyaltsuen, who presented the award, thanked the Rubin Museum for bringing the art and cultures of the Himalayan region to a wider audience and for recognising contemporary Himalayan art through the prize.
“In Bhutan, we are incredibly fortunate to have inherited such a rich artistic tradition,” Her Majesty said.
Her Majesty said Bhutan’s artistic heritage is reflected in its architecture, textiles, spiritual traditions and everyday life, and stressed the importance of preserving and passing that heritage to future generations.
At the same time, Her Majesty said traditions must leave room for curiosity, experimentation and new forms of expression.
“This is where VAST has played such an important role, giving Bhutanese artists the space to explore, develop their own voices, and find new ways of expressing themselves,” Her Majesty said.
Her Majesty also encouraged Bhutanese artists to see contemporary expression and Bhutanese identity as complementary rather than conflicting.
“I hope our artists never feel that they have to choose between being contemporary and being Bhutanese,” Her Majesty said.
Her Majesty said some of the most interesting work could emerge where the two meet remaining rooted in Bhutanese identity while finding new ways to tell stories to the world.
The recognition marks a significant milestone for contemporary Bhutanese art and highlights the growing international visibility of Bhutanese artists.
Pem Lham has been associated with VAST Bhutan for more than 16 years. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts from Beaconhouse National University in Lahore, Pakistan, and has exhibited her work in Bhutan as well as Nepal, India, Belgium, France, Switzerland and Taiwan.
Her first solo exhibition, Molay Moley, was presented by VAST Bhutan in 2025. Her recent exhibitions include She at Pristine Contemporary Gallery in Delhi and Bhutan Festival at Leuk Castle in Switzerland.
She also won the White Canvas Art Competition in 2021 and received the Best Production Designer Award at the 2024 Bhutan National Film Awards for I, The Song.
Rubin Museum Senior Curator Elena Pakoutova described Pem Lham as a versatile artist with skill, emotional depth and a willingness to experiment with new forms of expression.
The museum’s Director of Global Projects and Collections, Michelle Bennett Simorella, said the recognition was significant in a global contemporary art world where South Asian women artists have historically been underrepresented.
The Rubin Museum Himalayan Art Prize was first awarded in 2024 to Tenzin Gyurmey Dorjee, followed by Khadhok – Tibetan Artists’ Collective in 2025.
Recipients receive the USD 30,000 cash award as well as a statuette designed by artist Tsherin Sherpa.
VAST Bhutan is a non-profit and civil society organisation dedicated to promoting contemporary Bhutanese art and mentoring young artists in the country. The Rubin Museum is a global museum dedicated to presenting Himalayan arts and its insights.
