Nepal Art Space · Exhibition
An exhibition on the Nepal of three centuries past — the late Malla courts, the Newar artisans who gilded the valley, and the world on the eve of unification. We're building it as a community, and we need you.
Status
In planning — venue & dates being confirmed in Kathmandu.
A show in the making
Join early and help shape the theme, the programming, and the room itself.
Rooted in heritage
Late-Malla courts, Newar craft, and the living history of the Kathmandu Valley.
Built by community
Organizers, volunteers, artists, and partners making it happen together.
The concept
Three hundred years ago the Kathmandu Valley was three rival kingdoms — Kathmandu, Patan, and Bhaktapur — each outdoing the other in temples, paubha, and metalcraft.
This exhibition looks back at the Nepal of the early 1700s: the late Malla period, when royal patronage and Newar guilds produced some of the finest art South Asia has seen — gilded struts, repoussé deities, illuminated manuscripts, and paubha scrolls — in the decades before Prithvi Narayan Shah unified the modern state.
We want artists to respond to that world, not just illustrate it: through historical reference, oral history, reinterpretation, photography, and new media. Around the artwork we'll build talks, guided walks, and workshops so visitors leave with a living sense of where Nepal came from.
It only works if we build it together — and that starts with the calls below.
Open calls
Pick the one that fits you — or propose your own. Every role below has a slot in the get-involved form.
Own a workstream and help steer the exhibition from idea to opening night.
Be the hands and heart on the ground before, during, and after the show.
Respond to 18th-century Nepal — paubha, sculpture, photography, new media, or research.
Help artists get the period right — the courts, customs, and craft of 18th-century Nepal.
Turn history into narrative — scripts, captions, and stories that give each artwork its voice.
Shape the narrative, sequence the rooms, and ground the show in real history.
Back the exhibition with funding, venue, materials, or in-kind support.
Tell the story — photography, writing, social, and press to fill the room.
How we'll build it
Here's the work ahead. Wherever you see yourself fitting in, there's a place for you on the team.
Theme & research
Anchor the show in late-Malla Nepal — courts, guilds, temples, and the eve of unification.
Artwork selection
Open call, jury review, and a curated mix of historical reference and new response work.
Venue & layout
Secure a gallery, plan the floor, lighting, and the visitor journey through the rooms.
Production & install
Framing, plinths, labels, signage, and a coordinated install and teardown crew.
Opening & programming
Opening night, artist talks, guided walks, and workshops across the run.
Logistics & care
Transport, insurance, handling, security, and safe return of every work.
Partners
The exhibition is powered by galleries, institutions, and sponsors who back Nepali art. The tiers below are open — your logo could sit here.
Lead partner
Supporting partners
Community partners
Get involved
Tell us how you'd like to contribute. A short note is enough to start — we'll follow up with details.
What happens next
Nepal Art Space reviews every submission and follows up by email with the next steps, timeline, and guidelines for your role.
Questions
Roughly the early 1700s — the late Malla period, when the Kathmandu Valley's three kingdoms drove a golden age of Newar art, paubha painting, and temple craft, just before Prithvi Narayan Shah's unification. Work can be historical, interpretive, or speculative.
No. We welcome emerging and established artists, students, researchers, and craftspeople. Volunteers and organizers don't need an art background at all — just commitment and care.
Dates are being finalised. There's no fee to apply. Register your interest now and we'll send the timeline, submission guidelines, and venue details as they're confirmed.
Venue and dates are being confirmed in Kathmandu. Sign up below and you'll be the first to know.
Art advisory
Share your space, budget, and taste. Nepal Art Space can suggest artworks, artists, auctions, or commission paths that fit.
Nepal Art Space