Every thangka is one of a kind · Hand-painted in the Kathmandu Valley · Ships worldwide

Akum Arts & Crafts Nepal

Hand-painted Thangka · Kathmandu Valley

Sacred art, painted by hand, one brushstroke at a time.

Original thangkas and Himalayan crafts, made by master painters and the women artisans of Akum. Every piece is one of a kind, and every purchase supports a family in Nepal.

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  • 100% hand-painted
  • Ships worldwide
  • Certificate included
Green Tara Thangka | Hand-Painted Tibetan Buddhist Canvas Art
In the studio Green Tara Thangka 80 × 30 cm · One of a kind
Hand-painted originalsNever prints. Mineral pigments and real gold.
Made by women artisansFair work and skills for families in Lalitpur.
Ships worldwideRolled in a rigid tube, tracked and insured.
Certificate of authenticitySigned, with the story of your piece.

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Weeksto months for a single piece

Months, not minutes

How a thangka is made

  1. 1

    The grid

    Canvas is stretched, primed with chalk and polished. The deity is drawn in charcoal on a sacred proportional grid, where every limb and gesture has a prescribed measure.

  2. 2

    The pigments

    Colours are ground from minerals and plants, mixed with binder and laid down in thin, patient layers, from the sky and landscape inwards to the figure.

  3. 3

    The gold

    Real gold is applied and burnished with a stone for the ornaments, halo and outlines, so the painting glows in lamplight.

  4. 4

    The eyes

    Last of all, the eyes are opened. It is traditionally the most auspicious moment, when the painting comes to life.

Read the full story in our journal

The hands behind it

Preserved by tradition. Powered by women.

We work hand in hand with women from under-represented and economically marginalised communities in Lalitpur. Through Akum they learn, grow and create, becoming artists, earners and storytellers. When you bring home a piece, you are not just buying art; you are supporting livelihoods and keeping an ancient tradition alive.

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What Our Customers Say

Google reviews

Loved the handicraft art I bought! The design is beautiful, well-made, and adds such a nice touch to my space. You can really see the effort and creativity in the work.

Priti Sakha Google review

The arts are very nice and I have had a very soothing experience with the products placed here. A must-visit place with worthwhile arts to own.

Srijan Shrestha Google review

Journal

Stories from the studio

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