Growing up, Galek Yangzom was always drawing or looking at drawings online. She also enjoyed watching cartoons and browsing various artworks inspired by her favourite characters.
“The different styles and methods of representing each character opened my eyes to the hidden language of art. Artists used colours and lines to convey different emotions, changed figure poses, and added gestures to enhance the character’s story. I wanted to do the same,” says the young Yangzom.
While at Swarthmore College, where she double majored in art and economics, Yangzom dived deep into painting. While dabbling in watercolours and acrylics, she also began working with oils in college. Her teachers let her explore her passions and interests. “They didn’t force me to conform to a narrow idea of what art should be. Additionally, they were one of my biggest inspirations to continue using oil paints.”
Work, she did, slowly honing her craft, culminating in her first solo exhibition in Singapore in July at The Arts House. ‘Patterned Prayer’ showcased Yangzom’s innovative reinterpretation of traditional Bhutanese motifs and patterns.
Desuung by Galek Yangzom. 
Mother by Galek Yangzom.
Her growing success didn’t surprise her father, Tshering Tobgay. The former prime minister of Bhutan, who led the country from 2013 to 2018, always knew his daughter would be a talented artist. “Twenty years ago, I remember returning home to discover my wife in a fit of rage, furiously yelling at Galek. She was about 4 then and had used her crayons to draw on our white kitchen wall,” Tobgay recalls, chuckling at the memory.
The politician encouraged his daughter’s artistic abilities instead of getting just as angry. “I realised then that we had an artist in our family. My suspicions were confirmed when she continued drawing on the other walls and pieces of furniture. Twenty years later, she came home with a degree in studio art!”
Yangzom remains forever grateful to her father for supporting her. From him, she learned the value of dedicating herself to her work while learning to see the big picture. She moved on from walls to canvas after understanding that actions had consequences. In this space, she realised why she loved art, leading her to learn and grow further.
As Yangzom focuses on expressing her ideas more effectively, the love affair that began as a child has only intensified. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and AI art are two avenues she’s exploring. “While they pose challenges, they also offer artists a whole new world of opportunities. I still have a lot to learn about them, but artists have always created rules, then broken those very rules in their work,” says Yangzom.
Her rule-breaking journey began with Coinllectibles. Her gallerist, Ying Ji of
Y Art Project, introduced Yangzom to the company, which uses blockchain to turn physical assets into digital ones via the Polkadot (DOT) protocol. For ‘Patterned Prayer’, she worked with Coinllectibles to turn the 21 pieces she exhibited into NFTs.
The exhibition has also invigorated her creative bent. Yangzom has been thinking about pursuing 3D art, and is now determined to create something in this space. “Many ideas are floating around in my head, especially after my exhibition, so there is a lot to condense and rework. This is one of the most enjoyable segments of the creative process, so I hope to have lots of fun in the studio.”
We wait with bated breath. Hopefully, her creative process will not involve whitewashed walls or furniture.
