Norbu Tsering (Nortse, 1963)

Norbu Tsering

Norbu Tsering, who goes by the artistic name Nortse, is a Tibetan artist. He is known for his contemporary paintings, which often incorporate traditional Tibetan iconography and Buddhist themes.

Nortse studied art at various institutions, including Tibetan University in Lhasa, the Central Academy of Art in Beijing and art academies in Guangzhou and Tianjin. He then worked as a professor of art at Tibetan University in Lhasa. He has exhibited his work in solo and group shows in China, Tibet and abroad, including at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Taipei and the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco.

Nortse often draws himself into his compositions, such that his practice reads as a culminating anthology of pictorial documents that sheds light on his identity and reality. His previous training in stage design proved pivotal in his current artistic practice as he moves freely across media. Photography is combined with painting, laden with tactile materials often harvested from daily life, in order to build images that raise questions on troubling global phenomena and, at the same time, proffer hope for our collective future.

Nortse's paintings often feature bold, vivid colors and intricate patterns, and he frequently uses gold leaf and other traditional materials in his work. He draws on his Tibetan heritage and Buddhist upbringing to explore themes of spirituality, identity, and cultural heritage. His work has been praised for its ability to bridge the gap between traditional Tibetan art and contemporary art, and for its powerful message of cultural resilience and pride.