Opening Gallery Talk & Reception
Dr. Bibhakar Sunder Shakya: Lain Singh Bangdel and the Making of Modern Nepali Art

Wednesday, February 4. 7:30 p.m.

Asian Arts Gallery & Center for the Arts Atrium, Towson University
1 Fine Arts Drive, Towson, MD 21204

Dr. Bibhakar Sunder Shakya, Founder and Chairman of the Bangdel & Shakya Foundation, will present the opening talk for Transformations: Lain Singh Bangdel, Art, Nepal, offering insights into Bangdel’s artistic journey and the vision behind the exhibition. As Bangdel’s son-in-law, Dr. Shakya first came to know him as a distinguished novelist before discovering the depth of his artistic genius. During his time at The Ohio State University, Dr. Shakya met and married Professor Dina Bangdel, the daughter of Bangdel, an esteemed art historian and curator whose scholarship helped redefine the study of Himalayan and South Asian art. Following Dina’s untimely passing in 2017, Dr. Shakya dedicated himself to preserving and sharing Bangdel’s legacy. Through exhibitions, publications, translations, and films, he has become a leading advocate for modern and contemporary Nepali art. His work has brought Bangdel’s story to audiences around the world, ensuring that Nepal’s modernist heritage is recognized as an essential part of global art history.