When the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art closed its Manhattan galleries, its beloved shrine room found a new home in Brooklyn, and it remains one of the calmest rooms in the city. Scroll paintings, sculptures, furniture and instruments from the 12th to 21st centuries are arranged by Tibetan Buddhist tradition, with chanted prayers by monks and nuns in the background. If you need a reset from a busy weekend, sit here for ten minutes.
What to expect
A dim, lamplit room set up like a household shrine where devotees would make offerings, pray and meditate, with thangkas and gilded sculpture arranged in traditional order. Recorded chanting fills the space, so it engages sound as much as sight.
Good to know
- Located in the Arts of Asia galleries on the second floor
- Included in general admission — no separate ticket
- Keep voices low; the room is designed for reflection
- The 2/3 at Eastern Parkway–Brooklyn Museum stops right outside
- A virtual version is online if you want to explore before going
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Common questions
Is this the same shrine room that was at the Rubin Museum?
Yes. It was exhibited at the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art in Manhattan from 2013 to 2024 and now lives at the Brooklyn Museum.
How long will it be in Brooklyn?
The Brooklyn Museum lists it through April 20, 2031.
