Class:

From the high-altitude monasteries of the Himalayan Mountains to the painted earthen walls of the Terai lowlands, Nepal and South Asia have produced some of the world’s most visually stunning and culturally rich artistic traditions. In this six-week beginner studio course, taught by Maria Bossert, a Fulbright researcher who lived and studied in Nepal, participants will explore a range of living art forms, including Mithila painting, mandala and sacred geometry, introductory Thangka techniques, and Tharu wall art, through hands-on projects each week.

No prior art experience is needed, just curiosity and a willingness to try something new.

What You’ll Learn:

Students will build a foundation in core studio art skills— linework, pattern, color theory, proportion, and texture— while learning the cultural, religious, and community stories behind each tradition they practice. Along the way, they will gain an understanding of how art can function differently across contexts: as devotional practice, festival celebration, domestic ritual, and living cultural heritage passed down through generations.

What You’ll Leave With:

Students will leave with a full sketchbook, a portfolio of pieces made across the six weeks of the course, and a crash course in the cultural art practices of South Asia. More than the artwork itself, students will leave with a new lens for looking at South Asian art— whether in a museum, a community space, or the world around them.