US, Sept. 16 -- The Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art announced Bhutanese visual artist Pem Lham as the winner of the 2026 Rubin Museum Himalayan Art Prize, a $30,000 unrestricted cash prize and the largest international award in support of contemporary art related to Himalayan regions. Pem Lham accepted the award on Sept 11, 2026, at a celebration hosted by the Rubin in collaboration with the artist collective VAST Bhutan in Thimphu, Bhutan, where Pem Lham is based.

"I have followed the Rubin Museum's work in celebrating Himalayan art for many years, and receiving this recognition feels truly meaningful and beyond what I ever imagined," says Pem Lham. "As artists, there are moments when we wonder if our stories are reaching anyone, but th...