Born in Kathmandu to a Newar family that traditionally served as government officials
Chandra Man Singh Maskey
Deceasedचन्द्रमानसिंह मास्के
Leading figure in the development of contemporary art in Nepal, one of the first two officially recognised art teachers in the country
About
Chandra Man Singh Maskey came from a Newar family. His family had a tradition of working in government jobs. He broke with this tradition to become an artist instead. At the time, the strict Rana regime ruled Nepal. Very few Nepalis were allowed to study modern art in another country. Maskey was one of the few who got this chance.
He trained at the Government School of Art in Kolkata, India. When he returned to Nepal, he held the country’s first-ever solo art exhibition in 1928. He became one of the first two officially recognized art teachers in Nepal.
In the 1940s, he was jailed for taking part in political activism. In jail, he shared a cell with the poet Chittadhar Hridaya. Hridaya secretly wrote a long poem there called Sugata Saurabha. Maskey illustrated it. This was an important collaboration between two major Nepali cultural figures of the 20th century.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1900
- Birthplace
- Kathmandu, Nepal
- Profession
- Artist, Painter, Art teacher
- Nationality
- Nepal
- Status
- Deceased
- Died
- 1984
Previous roles
Art Teacher
Durbar High School and Padma Kanya Girls High School
Education
Government School of Art, Kolkata
Fine Art
Career & life timeline
- 1900
- 1918
Began studying art at the Government School of Art, Kolkata
- 1928
Held the first-ever one-man exhibition in Nepal after returning to Kathmandu
- 1941
Jailed for political activism, alongside fellow prisoner and poet Chittadhar Hridaya
- 1957
Co-founded an art group with friends after resuming teaching following his release
- 1984
Died at age 84
Achievements
One of the first two officially recognised art teachers in Nepal
Held the first-ever one-man art exhibition in Nepal
1928Illustrated Chittadhar Hridaya's epic Sugata Saurabha while both were imprisoned
Related people
Last updated: 2026-09-06