Zanabazar: The Wisdom of the Steppes 17th-Century Masterpieces from the Heart of Mongolia to MAO

From 27 February to 7 April 2026, MAO Museo d’Arte Orientale, in collaboration with the Galleria Borghese, Rome, presents to the public for the first time in Europe two extraordinary works by the tulku Zanabazar, a 17th-century spiritual master, artist and innovator.

Born in the Mongolian Steppes in 1635, Zanabazar was a prominent figure in Tibetan Buddhism as practised in Mongolia at the time, honoured by the title Öndör Gegeen (His Holiness the Enlightened One) and the first Khutuktu Jebtsundamba, the highest spiritual authority of the reformed Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) school of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia, venerated as a reincarnation of one of the Buddha’s 500 original disciples. Declared the spiritual leader of the Mongols in 1639, when he was just four years old, he was also recognised by the 5th Dalai Lama (1617–1682) as the reincarnation of the Buddhist Indian scholar, Taranatha.

Over the course of nearly 60 years, Zanabazar advanced the reformed Gelugpa school (to which the Dalai Lama also belonged) among the Mongol population, supplanting the Sakya or ‘Red Hat’ traditions (the old pre-Gelugpa school) that had been previously dominant in the area, and deeply influenced social and political developments in 17th-century Mongolia.

In addition to being a brilliant scholar and a prominent spiritual authority, Zanabazar was also a versatile artist. A few works signed by him have also survived, a rare practice in Buddhist art.

Zanabazar is considered the greatest Mongolian sculptor of his time. The most important works made in Mongolia in the early modern period were created by him and members of his school, including an extraordinary Green Tara and a bronze self-portrait of Zanabazar enthroned. On view from 20 January to 22 February 2026 in the entrance hall of the Galleria Borghese, Rome, the two masterpieces will be on display at MAO, Turin from 27 February to 7 April 2026 in the museum’s galleries dedicated to South Asia, Central Asia and the Himalayan region, creating a dialogue with works from the Himalayas and in particular from the ancient Densatil Monastery in Central Tibet, which inspired Zanabazar’s sculptures and religious paintings.

Admission is included in the ticket for the permanent collection and the Chiharu Shiota exhibition.