Human Values That Transcend Time

Human Values That Transcend Time, the first major solo exhibition of Tibetan contemporary artist Anay Ngawang Chodak (b. 1980), opens this October at Crossing Art Gallery in Chelsea. This milestone in Anay’s career showcases a body of work that reimagines Tibet and the Himalayas’ rich Buddhist heritage through contemporary abstraction and a global visual language.

Anay’s paintings explore timeless Buddhist values—compassion, interconnectedness, and inner human value. The exhibition invites viewers to reflect on the universal pursuit of happiness and freedom from suffering, concerns that remain unchanged across time and cultures. By blending traditional Buddhist thangka painting with experimental compositions and abstraction, his art creates a bridge between sacred heritage and modern expression, offering audiences a space for contemplation, wisdom, and oneness.

“My work is a heartfelt bridge between cultural heritage and contemporary expression. By weaving timeless, universal Buddhist values with modern sensibility, I hope to awaken a deeper sense of wisdom and compassion in viewers. Each piece is a subtle invitation—a gesture of connection, encouraging us to envision a more conscious, interconnected, and compassionate world,” Anay explains.

Anay studied modern art in high school before training in the classical traditions of Newar and Tibetan Buddhist art. His lifelong admiration for ancient Indian Buddhist art—from Alchi, Newar, and Tibetan traditions—continues to inspire his practice. By weaving together influences across eras and cultures, he creates original works that express Buddhist philosophy in a contemporary visual language. A passionate admirer of modern and abstract art, Anay experiments with new forms to reimagine Buddhist art for modern audiences, while remaining rooted in devotion and lineage.