In the magical spiritual realms of the Himalayas, where my deeply rooted ancestral Buddhist devotion is closest to my heart, I learned and experienced the genuine connection between centuries-old Buddhist scriptures and art originating from India’s Nalanda tradition. 

Art is an unwavering passion that has been an inseparable element of my being since childhood. Today, I continue to incessantly draw and paint the visualizations of compositions, shapes, and colors, which intuitively and meaningfully reflect my philosophical understanding. 

In my artworks, you can find the expressions and embodiments of my Buddhist philosophical understanding of the source and cause of happiness and suffering we all experience, which intrinsically relates to the ‘interconnectedness’ of our very existence as a whole.  

I intend for my artwork to be analyzed and meditated on in order for its deeper philosophical meanings to surface. In this manner, we can each find the keys to discovering the profound meanings of our states of mind and the true nature of our perspectives and perhaps see the outer world in a more positive light.

Anay Ngawang Chodak (b. 1980) is a visionary artist and lifelong Buddhist practitioner whose work is deeply rooted in his spiritual and artistic heritage. He comes from a family lineage that traces back to Repa Dorje Chang, a revered yogi disciple of the great Tibetan mystic Jetsun Milarepa. This lineage continues to inform both his devotion and his visual language, grounding his contemporary practice in centuries of sacred tradition.
Living between Kathmandu and New York, Chodak bridges the sacred stillness of the Himalayas with the dynamic energy of the city. As a master of traditional Tibetan thangka painting and an innovative contemporary creator, he weaves ancestral wisdom into modern forms, creating work that resonates across cultures and generations.

From 2003 to 2021, Anay Ngawang Chodak devoted his artistic mastery to creating an extraordinary body of traditional Tibetan thangka paintings and miniature thangka artworks on sacred manuscript folios, honoring the visionary practices of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama. Commissioned under the spiritual guidance of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Rangjung Neljorma Khandro Kunga Bhuma Rinpoche, this extensive work includes a series of monumental mural thangkas installed within the inner sanctum of the five-story Great Stupa in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India. These works remain enduring expressions of classical Buddhist artistry, spiritual devotion, and the visual transmission of enlightened wisdom.

Anay's deeply philosophical art delivers mesmerizing abstractions of spirited yet meaningful expressions. He explores the symbolism of the ‘interconnectedness of our existence’ by illuminating outer beauty and inner philosophical aspects, thus forming a thoughtful reflection of the science of the mind.

Anay Ngawang Chodak’s artistic approach involves reimagining his roots in antiquity Buddhist art originating in India’s Nalanda tradition delivered with a fusion of styles from Newa Poubha, Kashmiri-style Alchi, and Tibetan art —merging his intrigue with its modern interpretation and representation, particularly in the context of female energy as a divine source of wisdom.

Anay mainly works with Japanese mineral pigment, gouache, 24K gold, and 975 pure silver on handmade Tibetan canvas and paper. He lives and works between Kathmandu, Nepal, and New York City.

Wrathful and Peaceful (2021) in progress

Solo Exhibitions

2025 — Modern Reflections of Wisdom and Compassion, Kate Oh Gallery, New York, NY

2025 — Oneness: Exploring Universal Values, Arushi Gallery, New Delhi, India

2024 — Opening Doors to Universal Inner Human Value, Kisimaaka Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal

2024 — Compassion and Wisdom in a Contemporary World, Drala Resort, Parphing, Nepal

2024 — Imprints of Compassion and Wisdom, Wind Horse Art Gallery, Lalitpur, Nepal

2023 — Compassion and Wisdom in a Contemporary World, Siddhartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu, Nepal

Group Exhibitions

2025 — Endless Knot, Kate Oh Gallery, New York, NY

2023 — Sahaja, Siddhartha Festival, Bodhgaya, India

2023 — Sahaja Online Art Gallery, Siddhartha’s Intent

Art Fairs

2024 — The Other Art Fair, ZeroSpace, Brooklyn, NY

2024 — The Other Art Fair, Barker Hangar, Santa Monica, CA

Featured in “Best of Fair” Collection | September 26–29, 2024

Notable Installations

Hilton Hotel Executive Lounge, Kathmandu
Large-Scale Site-Specific Installation, 2025

A large-scale commissioned installation designed to harmonize with the architecture of the Executive Lounge at Hilton Kathmandu. The work features the artist’s signature motifs—happiness pods, interconnected links, and blooming flowers—alongside natural elements like water and clouds. These forms symbolize the freshness of inner values, unity, and interdependence. Created to evoke serenity, joy, and contemplation, the installation transforms the space, inviting guests into a vibrant world of color, harmony, and unexpected magic.

Past Buddhist Artist Residency

Artist-in-Residence for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Khandro Rinpoche

Dharamsala, India — 2003–2021

From 2003 to 2021, Anay Ngawang Chodak served as Artist-in-Residence under the spiritual guidance of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Rangjung Neljorma Khandro Kunga Bhuma Rinpoche. During this time, he created an extensive collection of traditional Tibetan thangka paintings and sacred manuscript folio artworks, contributing to one of the most significant Buddhist art initiatives of the 21st century. His work, rooted in classical techniques, includes murals for the Great Stupa in Tawang and remains a vital expression of devotion, lineage, and sacred artistic heritage.

Education

Spiritual Studies and Retreat Assistance India & Nepal, 2003–current

Studied Buddhist philosophy and spiritual practices under the personal guidance of Rangjung Neljorma Khandro Tseringma Rinpoche. Assisted and accompanied multiple long-term personal retreats at her residence and sacred pilgrimage sites in India and Nepal.

Traditional Thangka Apprenticeship India & Nepal, 1998–2003

Studied under renowned Newar Paubha master Roshan Shakya (Kathmandu, Nepal) and Tibetan thangka master Ven. Jamyang (Dharamsala, India)

The Modern Art School Mussoorie, India, 1995–1998

Diploma in Fine Arts

A large-scale Hilton Hotel Kathmandu Executive Lounge Installation in progress