The Oglethorpe University Museum of Art (OUMA) will host “The Extraordinary Life of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama: An Illuminated Journey,” an exhibition of original artworks by author and illustrator Rima Fujita, from Feb. 13 to June 7, 2026. The exhibition marks the first public showing of Fujita’s illustrations created for her book “An Illuminated Journey, the Story of the Dalai Lama.”

An opening reception will be held from 5–7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at the museum. Fujita and Carole McGranahan, professor of anthropology at the University of Colorado Boulder, will offer brief presentations during the event. Dr. McGranahan is a cultural anthropologist and historian specializing in contemporary Tibet.

The exhibition highlights Fujita’s extensive interviews with the 14th and incumbent Dalai Lama, whose life has been marked by hardship, displacement, and global advocacy for peace. Despite these challenges, His Holiness is known for his optimism and compassion, often remarking, “I am quite happy.” Fujita’s artwork brings to life the personal narrative of a spiritual leader who continues to inspire millions.

“The world knows who the Dalai Lama is, but how much do we know about what he has gone through?” Fujita said.

The exhibition also honors the Dalai Lama’s 90th year — declared the Year of Wisdom and Compassion, spanning July 6, 2025, to July 6, 2026. Throughout this milestone year, His Holiness continues to share messages of resilience, hope, and the belief that “we all have the potential to become happy.”

This show also honors the founding director of the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art, Lloyd Nick. During his tenure as director, he was responsible for numerous exhibitions. Among the most memorable were “The Mystical Arts of Tibet Featuring Personal Sacred Objects of the Dalai Lama,” a collection of Tibetan artifacts that drew thousands of patrons, including the 14th Dalai Lama himself, and “The Sacred Round: Mandalas by the Patients of Carl Jung,” a first-of-its-kind exhibition and Lloyd’s last before retirement.

Lloyd’s tenure as director of the museum helped put OUMA on the map as a local, expertly-curated destination for the arts.