Samundra Man Singh Shrestha

Born in 1980, Shrestha is a trained Paubha artist. He started his journey into the world of art at the tender age of 14.  Shrestha’s work skillfully combines his inspiration and mastery of the traditional Newar style of painting with conceptual contemporaneity—with binaries and juxtaposition of past and present, modern and traditional, and the aesthetic with pure conception. His innovative works push the boundaries of the sacred and secular, by challenging the very categories of contemporary and traditional art. His art works are deeply rooted in the sacred knowledge of iconography of deities, He has received significant national and international awards, and his work is in major collection of India, UK, US, Europe, and East Asia.

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION:   Bachelor in Fine Art (continue)

PAINTING CAREER STARTED FROM: 1992 participated in Traditional Paubha painting course organized by Nepal Association of Traditional Artists (N.A.T.A)

VICE –PRESIDENT:  Nepal Association of Traditional Artists (N.A.T.A)

MEMBER:  Artist Association of Nepal.

ACHIEVEMENTS

1994: First prize in paintings competition organized by: Judhodya secondary school, Kathmandu, Nepal on the occasion of annual ceremony.                                        

1995: First prize in environment art competition organized by N.G.O. Environmental Management Program I.U.C.N. The world conservation union.

1995: Second Runner Up in the painting competition organized by NEPAL- ISRAEL friendship association and the embassy of ISRAEL

1997: NATIONAL AWARD – Commanded prize 28th National art and craft exhibition & competition organized by ROYAL ACADEMY (N.A.F.A) on the auspicious occasion of HIS MAJESTY KING BIRENDRA BIR BIKRAM SHAH DEV  53rd birthday.  

1999: Best Craft man of the year 1999 on the Thanka competition   organized by CRAFTMEN FOUNDATION INC – USA.

2000: First position in Nationwide open landscape paintings competition organized by SANTI YUBA CLUB (Patan Dhoka, Nepal).

2000: NATIONAL AWARD - Second prize in 31st National art and craft Exhibition organized by N.A.F.A.  in the TRADITIONAL Paintings.

2001:  NATIONAL AWARD - Second prize in 32nd National art and craft Exhibition organized by N.A.F.A.  in the craft section.

2004: Winning Award in the Camlin Art Foundation Fifth Eastern Region Art Exhibition 2004 at Kolkata,     INDIA.

2006: Participated in Prize distribution program in Japan and Winning First Position in paintings competition sponsored by Association of Lumbini (Nepal) on the Occasion of the 50th anniversary in diplomatic relation establishment between Japan and Nepal.

2012: Hemganga Yuva Prathiva Puraskar- in the traditional art field organized by Nepal commercial Artist Association.

2016: Nominated as a “Newsmaker of the year 2073” from the art field by Nepal National weekly newspaper - saptahik.

2017:  Received Creative Artist special Award 2073 for continuous contribution in Art field by Nandadevi khanal Lalitkala Smriti Samman established by Arupan Art Gallery

2017: NATIONAL AWARD - First prize in national exhibition of fine arts -2017

2017: Honored with SPANDAN Excellence Award, Awarded for Excellence in Art org by SPANDAN International at Mumbai (India)

2019: Honored with Gold Medal in a tittle with Ariniko Yuba Kala Puraskar 2075, for continuous support in Art field form last 2 decades by Rastriyae Yuba Sewa Kosh

SOLO EXHIBITION

2016: Embodied Enlightenment, contemporary Newar Paubha painting exhibition curated by Dr. Dina Bangdel, (May 29th to june 9) from the collection of Bodhisattva Gallery

2021: Samundra Man Singh Shrestha, The Journey of Artistic Mastery. Solo Exhibition organized by Museum of Nepali Art (MoNA) from February 06 to February 26, 2021

NATIONAL GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

Participated in more than a dozen of National Exhibitions.

2024: Kathmandu Art Biennale-Spiritual Exhibitio 2024, organized by Museum of Nepali Art (MoNA), Kathmandu Art House (KAH) from Jan 18 to Apr 18, 2024.

INTERNATIONAL GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

2004: The fifth eastern region Camlin Art Exhibition organized by Camline Art Foundation,Calcutta, India.

2006: 50th Anniversary in diplomatic relation establishment between Japan and Nepal Group Exhibition on Sep 9th to 23rd at Neparu Art Gallery, Osaka, Japan.

2012: Nepalese Traditional and Contemporary Art Exhibition (March 2nd – April 6th) at Art Center, Highland Park, IL, 60035 U.S.A (organized by Arts of Nepal)

2012: Sreejan Sarhad on 25th to 29th March at Amrita Kala Vithika D.D.U Gorakhpur University Campus, India.

2013: 2nd International Art Camp and Exhibition for Global Peace at Maha Kumbha, Allahabad, India.

2013: Ranga Sarahad Exhibition at D.D.U Art Gallery, Gorakhpur, India

2015: International art exhibition at Simla (India, Himachal Pradesh)

2016: India Art Fair (28th - 3rd Jan) at New Delhi.

2016: Newar Paubha Painting Exhibition in Beijing (China) Chao Yong Gallery 798 (18th - 31st Oct) org                                                                                      by Aranya collection.   

2018: Thailand- Nepal Art workshop & exhibition 2018 at Andman art Museum Karabi, Thailand.

2019: Indo-Nepal artist, Art Critic Symposium & Exhibition Org by U.P. Art circle at Lalit Kala Akademi , regional center, Lucknow, India.

2019: Nepal Art Now exhibition organized by Weltmuseum Wein, April 11 to November 6, 2019

2023: Indo-Nepal Art Symposium An Art Camp, Jan 19 to 24 April 2023

2023: Nepal – Bangladesh Art & Culture Festival 2023, 14 to 18 March 2023

WORKSHOPS:

2009:  NDA Nepal Orthopedic Hospital painting workshop 8th January 2009.

2010:  Painting workshop at Mandala Street, Thamel, Nepal organized by Fusion Art Gallery.

2012: Art workshop in Lumbini, Nepal (April 13th–17th) Birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha organized by W.W.F.

2013:  Global Peace (17th Feb – 6th March 2013) Allahabad, India organized by Bashudev Kutumbhakam.

2013:  Ranga Sarhad (7th March- 9th March 2013) Gorakhpur, India organized by Gorakhpur University.

2015:  4th International Art Camp (February 4th to 8th 2015) for Global Peace in Bangalore, India organized by Bashudev Kutumbhakam.

2021: 1st Annual Art Fest, Art for Hope organized by Museum of Nepali Art (MoNA) and Kathmandu Art House (KAH) as the charity for Kanti Children’s Hospital happened at Kathmandu Guest House, Thamel.

SPECIAL – EXPERIENCE

2003:  One of the Lead participants of the group of traditional Artists to do mural paintings at the Tara Foundation, A German Monastery at Lumbini, Nepal (Paintings of Traditional Buddhist deities of the size up to four feet each).

2025: Collaboration with Old Durbar Whiskey to place artwork “Mythical Creatures” in the bottles.

PROFESSIONAL PARTICIPATION

2012: Participated on “International Conference on Visual Arts – Changing approach towards Contemporary Visual Arts in Global Scenario” representing Nepal in D.D.U., Gorakhpur University, India.