Photos By Dave De Armas, Courtesy of the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art
If you’ve ever stepped into the Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room at the now-closed Rubin Museum of Art in Manhattan, you already know how transporting the experience can be. This serene, lamplit installation — more spiritual refuge than exhibit — offered a peaceful escape from the chaos of the city for over a decade. Now, Brooklyn gets its turn to host this unique, immersive installation.
The Rubin’s iconic Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room has officially reopened at the Brooklyn Museum, where it will reside for the next six years. Tucked into the Arts of Asia galleries, the Shrine Room brings with it more than 100 breathtaking ritual objects and artworks — everything from intricate thangka scroll paintings and bronze sculptures to furniture and ceremonial instruments —arranged just as they would be in a traditional household altar. These objects span centuries, from the 12th to the 20th, and reflect the deep ritual traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
The installation is fully immersive: ambient chanting by monks and nuns plays throughout the room, enveloping you in sound as your eyes wander over every carefully placed detail. It’s not just an art experience; it’s a multisensory meditation on devotion, beauty, and inner stillness.
More than one million visitors experienced the Shrine Room during its time at the Rubin Museum (2013–2024), and its relocation to Brooklyn ensures that New Yorkers—and anyone who finds themselves in the borough — can continue to find inspiration and calm in its quiet presence.
Whether you’re a practicing Buddhist, a curious observer, or simply in need of a moment of peace, the Shrine Room is waiting to welcome you.
The Brooklyn Museum is Located as 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11238, Accessible Easily via the 2 or 3 Train.