Master painter and craftsman Lama Gyurme was born in Tanay, Tibet in 1969. His family sent him to the Mindroling monastery upon the invitation of the head monk to study painting and traditional arts when he was 15. 

 

Gyurme's first teacher was from Kham (Guangzhou) located in Eastern Tibet. After initial study, he went to live with his principal teacher, Lama Tsekyab in order to fully absorb the rich tradition of Tibetan painting, of which his teacher was master. The famous paintings of Korkyim Monastery were created by his teacher, during the period when Tibetans were once again allowed to worship and rebuild their temples and monasteries.

 

While still young Gyurme became an adept in Tibetan ritual and monastery traditions. He became manager and rule keeper of the monastery and lead chants at Mindroling until 1998. He painted or assisted in the restoration of hundreds of the temple paintings.

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In 1998 he was invited to teach painting at the Shanshung Institute in Italy, one of the most important Tibetan Buddhist centers outside of Tibet. He spent the next two years teaching traditional Tibetan art and sculpture. During his tenure at the Institute he studied Italian and English and wrote an important history of Tibetan Art in Tibetan.

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Currently Lama Gyurme is the principal artist for the Tara Mandala Temple.  This project started over a decade ago and is still work in progress.  Below are some select images of Lama Gyurme's work at Tara Mandala, Pagosa Springs, CO. 

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Lama Gyurme currently resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his wife and son.