Curatorial Note
The Next II: 2026 brings together a dynamic group of emerging Nepali artists whose practices reflect the evolving landscape of contemporary art in Nepal. Working across painting, printmaking, mixed media, and experimental processes, the artists in this exhibition engage with a wide spectrum of themes ranging from memory, mythology, spirituality, and cultural heritage to identity, community, environment, and personal narratives.
While deeply rooted in local histories and lived experiences, these works also demonstrate a willingness to reinterpret tradition through contemporary visual languages. From the sacred imagery of deities and ritual practices to reflections on urban transformation, family histories, and collective memory, the exhibition reveals the diverse ways in which a new generation of artists navigates the relationship between past and present.
The Next II: 2026 celebrates the creative depth, technical versatility, and conceptual richness emerging within Nepal’s contemporary art scene. Together, the artists offer fresh perspectives that contribute to an ongoing dialogue about culture, place, and the future of artistic practice in Nepal.
Curator,
Roshan Bhandari
