Well-known Tibetan artist Tenzing Rigdol has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Colorado, Denver on Tuesday. Tenzing is one of the most widely recognized artists from the Tibetan community and he has been recognized by his alma mater, University of Colorado Denver’s College of Arts & Media through this honorary doctorate.
40 years old Tenzing Rigdol was born in Nepal and obtained his bachelor’s degree in visual arts from University of Colorado Denver’s College of Arts & Media. He has been well known for installations of 20,000 kilos of soil in Dharamsala, the Tibetan exile headquarters, brought from Shigatse in Tibet. During his exhibition titled ‘Our Land, Our People’, in 2011, more than 6000 people visited in an emotional situation as most of them kneeled down on the soil from Tibet to pray for a possible return to their homes.
Laurence Kaptain, Dean of the University of Colorado Denver’s College of Arts & Media (CAM) said that the institution is proud that the committee has selected its alumnus Tenzing Rigdol whose life reflects three values of the college, i.e., creative, excellence and discovery.
“CAM is proud the CU Board of Regents selected a CAM alum whose life trajectory reflects the three values of the College of Arts & Media—creative, excellence, discovery, and Denver, the city embraced him and his family,” says Laurence Kaptain, CAM dean. “Thank you to Tenzing Rigdol for demonstrating the essential linkages that illuminate the pathways of both courage and consciousness.”
Rigdol is represented internationally by Rossi & Rossi, a leading pioneer of Asian art representation, engaging with major collectors, museums, and institutions worldwide. Rigdol uses the sale of his works to support Tibetan artists, poets, and writers through his collective located in Dharmshala, India.