Artist Biography – Ishan Pariyar
Ishan Pariyar (b. 1984) is a leading contemporary Nepali artist, painter, and performance artist whose work bridges tradition and modernity. He received his MFA in Painting from the Central Department of Fine Art, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu in 2013, and has since emerged as one of the most versatile voices in Nepal’s evolving art scene.
Over the years, Pariyar has been honored with numerous awards, including the prestigious Araniko Youth Award (National Youth Service Fund), National Fine Art Award (Nepal Academy of Fine Arts), Creative Young Artist Award (Siddhi Setuli Pratisthan), Sita Shree Talent Award (Pant Memorial Academy), and the Prashanta Memorial Scholarship Talent Award, alongside multiple other national and international recognitions.
With five solo exhibitions to his credit, his most recent solo show, held at Siddhartha Art Gallery in 2019, was widely acclaimed. His work has been showcased in major international platforms, most notably the 18th Asian Art Biennale (Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka, Bangladesh), one of Asia’s oldest and most respected art biennales & Bihar Museum Biennale in 2023. He has also participated in artist residencies such as AIR_MCUBE (Gallery MCUBE, 2014) and the Artists Residency Program by Bindu Space for Artists (2012).
Pariyar’s artistic journey includes participation in numerous national and international exhibitions, such as the National Exhibition of Fine Arts (Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, since 2006), A Space for Freedom & Equality (American Center, US Embassy, Kathmandu), series of Amalgam (Siddhartha Art Gallery), series of from 20018-2025 Himalayan Art Festival (E Arts Nepal), Nalin David Collection of Nepali Contemporary Art. Pearlstein Art Gallery, Philadelphia, USA, Deities of Nepal i & ii, Nepal Art Council, Kathmandu
Beyond painting, Pariyar is also recognized for his performance art practice, having performed at the 18th NIPAF ASIA (Nippon International Performance Art Festival, Japan), the Kolkata International Performance Art Festival (India), and interdisciplinary projects such as Expression Expedition (Luna Poets). Since 2013, he has been an active participant in the Series of Performance Art in Kathmandu organized by Bindu Space for Artists.
He has engaged in a wide spectrum of art workshops and collaborations, including projects with the WWF, UNDP, Kathmandu Contemporary Art Center, Lasanaa, and International Watercolor Society (IWS Nepal). His workshops span diverse practices—from traditional painting to video art, mask-making, interdisciplinary research, and collaborative art exchanges across South Asia and beyond.
Pariyar’s works are housed in private collections across Nepal, USA, Japan, China, Germany, Australia, Bangladesh, South Korea, Pakistan, and other countries, testifying to his growing global resonance.
Ishan Pariyar is a leading contemporary artist from Nepal known for his thought-provoking paintings that explore themes of social harmony, environmental balance, and cultural identity. Explore his artwork, exhibitions, and artistic journey. Rooted in the cultural fabric of Nepal yet deeply engaged with contemporary discourse, Ishan Pariyar’s art practice reflects an ever-evolving exploration of identity, society, and spirituality—bridging local narratives with global conversations
Ishan likes to explore his ideas through social and environmental subjects in his artworks. About his painting, presently the metaphor that visits his canvas frequently other than bitter melon is a boat. Here boat suggests a journey, a solitary one, and the water where the boat floats have a texture of bitter melon. However, if one endures, it is all worth a while is his message. The additional images he incorporates are sculptures of deities and portions of humans which suggest faith and hope that is in the process of completion. With all his metaphors and suggestions on his canvas, he narrates stories of human beings, their dreams, illusions, imaginations, and realities.
Pariyar’s work is characterized by the use of metaphoric elements such as boats and bitter melons, symbolizing journeys through societal imbalances and the pursuit of equilibrium. His paintings often incorporate textures and motifs that reflect social angst and human restlessness, yet they are rendered with soothing and balanced color schemes, suggesting a quest for harmony amidst chaos.
