University of Colorado Denver awards contemporary Tibetan artist with Honorary Doctorate

DHARAMSALA 5 May: Contemporary Tibetan artist Tenzing Rigdol has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Colorado Denver, his alma mater.

The Colorado University Board of Regents has conferred on Rigdol who graduated from the University with a degree in fine arts in 2005 an Honorary Degree Doctor of Human letters on Tuesday.

The Dean of the University of Colorado Denver’s College of Arts & Media (CAM) has said that the department is proud that the University of Colorado Denver Board of Regents selected a CAM alum for the honour. 

“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,” Dean Laurence Kaptain was quoted as saying in the University’s webpage.

The dean has further thanked Rigdol “for demonstrating the essential linkages that illuminate the pathways of both courage and consciousness.”

The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters is an honorary degree awarded to those who have distinguished themselves through humanitarian and philanthropic contributions to society. Rigdol’s work has been shown worldwide. 

The University declared Rigdol as the first Tibetan artist whose work has been acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s (MET) permanent collection, It further added that Rigdol’s site-specific installation in India, titled ‘Our Land, Our People’ in 2011 earned him international notice as a “visionary artist-activist.” 

“Through an arduous journey, Rigdol transported 20,000 kg of Tibetan soil, blessed by the Dali Lama to India, allowing Tibetan refugees to walk to on the earth of their homeland.”  

Additionally, the 40-year-old contemporary Tibetan artist’s works have been on display in the US, London and Hong Kong as well.