Bhutanese artist Pem Lham wins Rubin Museum's prize for Himalayan art
The $30,000 unrestricted cash prize will be awarded at a ceremony with the Queen of Bhutan in attendance
Bhutanese artist Pem Lham has been awarded the prestigious Rubin Museum Himalayan Art Prize, a $30,000 unrestricted grant aimed at supporting contemporary artists from the region. The prize will be officially awarded on September 11th during a ceremony in Bhutan's capital, Thimphu. Queen Jetsun Pema is expected to attend the event.
The annual prize, launched in 2024 following the Rubin Museum's transition to a decentralized global model, seeks to redirect financial resources to initiatives such as the prize and a grant program for researchers in Himalayan art. Elena Pakhoutova, the museum's senior curator, commends Lham's "versatility and notable skill" as well as her "emotional agility" that connects with her subjects.
Born in Lhuentse, Bhutan in 1997, Lham holds a bachelor's degree in visual arts from Beaconhouse National University in Lahore, Pakistan. Her multidisciplinary work blends traditional Bhutanese art with contemporary techniques, exploring themes like memory and identity. She is particularly known for her recurring image of a female figure fading into a wall, symbolizing societal expectations placed on women.
Pem Lham will further develop these themes in upcoming projects, including a commissioned mural for Gelephu Mindfulness City in Bhutan and continued work with Vast Bhutan, a nonprofit where she held her first solo exhibition in 2025. The artist plans to expand her research and experimentation in painting, weaving, installation and sculpture. She sees the award as permission to slow down and trust that her work will find its form in due time.
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