Karma Chog Gyurpa

CHINA, Tibet

Karma Chog Gyurpa was an early painter of the Tibetan Karma Gadri School between the late 15th century and early 16th century. Although much of his biography is unknown, he is regarded as an integral figure in the artistic direction and creations of the Karma Kagyu school, and produced works with similar characteristics as those by Namkha Tashi, a well-known Lhoka painter. His later works were influential on Karma Gadri, and thus he was reputed as one of the three main founders of the Karma Gadri School. Karma Chog Gyurpa was skilled in creating large-scale thangkas, many of which are kept at Tsurphu Monastery.