Two traditional Tibetan Thangka paintings have been added to the cultural assets of SUNY Old Westbury thanks to a generous donation by Shulian Liang, a friend of the campus’ School of Business.
The two paintings were hand-painted by a master Thangka painter and teacher, Guru Khenpo Yoezer Rinpoche and represent a valuable addition to the University’s collection. Each has an estimated value of $3,000.
"I am truly grateful and happy for SUNY Old Westbury’s leadership and support in welcoming these precious paintings by my supreme master Khenpo Yoezer Rinpoche in Bhutan to the school,” said Liang. “I hope that these paintings will bring lots of blessings to the school as well as to the world."
The donation was announced during an October 2, 2025, reception at the University’s Amelie A. Wallace Gallery.
"We are deeply appreciative for these contributions and the commitment to cultural preservation and exchange that they represent," said Jo-Ann Robinson, executive vice president and chief of staff during the reception. "By honoring and displaying Thangka art, we celebrate the richness of Himalayan culture, promote intercultural understanding, and uphold the values of mindfulness, peace, and reverence for tradition."
The donated paintings will be displayed in the Office of the President and School of Business, respectively.
According to the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Thangkas are most often religious in nature, often considered a form of visual scripture. They depict buddhas, bodhisattvas (enlightened beings), and teachers, and illustrate their sacred stories and the principles they embody. As both objects of worship and expressions of religious ideals, thangkas are a central feature in monastic shrines as well as in domestic altars.