Tag Archives: Tsogo Mijid

Featured artist at “Asian American Artist Showcase”, 2020 Dragon Film Festival, SIE Film Center

I am one of the featured artists at the “Asian American Artist Showcase” fine art exhibition at the 2020 Dragon Film Festival in collaboration with Denver Film Society at the Sie Film Center.

Curated by Eriko Tsogo, the “Asian American Artist Showcase” features a diverse selection of 15 original works by established Colorado artists Homare Ikeda, Yuki Horikawa, Tsogo Mijid, and Mamiko Ikeda. The group exhibition offers a celebration of culture, diversity and outstanding artistry by Asian American artists.

Curator’s Statement

Join us at the Film Festival’s Opening Reception on Thursday, February 20, 6-9pm.

Exhibition runs 2/19 – 2/23, 2020.

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“Border″ Upcoming New Art Exhibition, International Yurt Art Residency Program, Cultural Partner Program @ McNichols Civic Building

Here is a preview of some of the soft sculpture Tsam masks featured at the exhibition:

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“My Mother, My God” exhibition for “Dearly Disillusioned” at McNichols

I am part of a Denver art collective exhibition called “Dearly Disillusioned” curated by Pink Progression at McNichols Civic Building. The group exhibition runs from January 18-April 5, 2020. Our wall space is entitled “My Mother, My God” featuring three collaborating family member artists (Eriko Tsogo, Tsogo Mijid, Batkhishig Batochir). Each of us wrote a letter to our mothers the paired it with one corresponding artwork about our mothers.

“My Mother, My God” is dedicated to the power and inspiration of unconditional love, about the familial bond shred between a mother and her child. The exhibit pairs art and writing to celebrate a mother’s love as one of the most powerful forces on earth, promoting appreciation and gratitude for our mothers, inspiring altruism and love.

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“Tsogo Mijid: A Retrospective 1999-2019″ New Art Book Release

I will have the release of my new art book “Tsogo Mijid: A Retrospective” at my upcoming and final exhibition at Pirate Contemporary Gallery. The exhibition is also entitled “Tsogo Mijid: A Retrospective” and set to open Friday, November 29th, 2019 at Denver’s Pirate: Contemporary Art gallery with Opening Reception on Friday, December 6th, 2019 from 6—9pm. The art show will feature the select paintings from each year spanning through two decades of my career since immigrating to America.

Here is a preview of my book in print, please email tsogo_baja@yahoo.com if you are interested in purchasing a copy:

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“Tsogo Mijid: A Retrospective 1999-2019″ Upcoming Final Art Exhibition @ Pirate Contemporary Art Gallery

TSOGO MIJID: A Retrospective 1999—2019

Mongolia / Denver

[Denver, Colorado, November 2019]  Tsogo Mijid, a local Colorado Mongolian artist will have a major exhibition of his work to date at Pirate: Contemporary Art gallery—curated by Eriko Tsogo, his twenty-year retrospective art show will feature a prolific multidisciplinary oeuvre, carefully selected works from 1999-2019 featuring mix of paintings, drawings, and mixed media works of the artist’s career since his immigration from Mongolia to residency in Colorado.

Tsogo Mijid: A Retrospective” is set to open Friday, November 29th, 2019 at Denver’s Pirate: Contemporary Art gallery with Opening Reception on Friday, December 6th, 2019 from 6—9pm. Tsogo’s art show will feature new paintings and the release of his art book, which spans the artist’s career from early traditional Mongolian folk art through his iconic public sculptures, interactive installations and large-scale contemporary neo-folk abstract paintings.

Tsogo Mijid was born and raised in the heart of the luminous mountains of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. His artistic talents proved uninhibited from a young age while growing up in a society of parallel dysfunctions amid a conflicting period when strong cultural censorship and Communist idealism took place.

Tsogo has had numerous solo and select group exhibitions in Mongolia, Hungary, Germany, Russia and the United States. His artworks owned by noble peace prize laureate the 14th Dalai Lama and the Denver Art Museum Asian Art Collection, with permanent installations at The Denver Zoo and Meow Wolf Denver upcoming in 2020. Tsogo remains one of the few affluent Mongolian artists in the world to follow in the ancient art of the Mongolian Tsam Mask making tradition.

At once painfully personal and daringly public – the oeuvre of Tsogo’s artworks are imbued with theoretical concepts and ideas, providing a window into the private struggle and personal achievements of the artists life as an artist, father and immigrant fraught with endurance, fight and survival.

Tsogo’s “Tulga” public sculpture at Ulaanbaatar Park in Lowry launched him to international stardom in 2009. His sculpture remains an iconic symbol and celebration of Mongolian immigrants in America. Tsogo’s retrospective exhibition represents the pinnacle of the artist’s career in America, offering a glimpse into his history and the history of the Mongolian American immigrant experience within the multicultural context of the Colorado / Mongolian cultural connection as evidenced through the evolution of his artworks over time.

Over the course of his thirty-five year career, Tsogo’s commitment to creating powerful images of the marginal persons life is unwavering. Having lived an interesting life through various political systems in many different countries, Tsogo remains a versatile artist whose different art practices continues to reflect his migratory experiences. Using his virtuoso skills as Mongolian folk art draftsman, Thangkha Buddhist scroll painter, and Abstract Expressionist, Tsogo developed his style and approach over time to address shifting concerns and new audiences. In each of the cities in which he lived over the course of his career—Mongolia, Ukraine, Hungary and, finally, Denver—Tsogo continues to be a key figure within his dual vibrant Colorado and Mongolian communities.

TSOGO MIJID: A Retrospective 1999—2019 is sponsored by the Mongolian Culture and Heritage Center of Colorado, BD’s Mongolian Grill and The Denver Zoo.

Show Runs: November 29 – December 15, 2019

Opening Reception: Friday December 6, 2019 | 6—10pm

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Mongolian Folktale Themed Permanenet Art Comission Project for Denver Zoo 4D Theatre

The Denver Zoo commissioned me in early 2019 to lead all the art and design component for their new 4D Theatre building (due to open late Summer 2019). The new theatre has Mongolian culture theme, surrounding the Mongolian folk story “Four Harmonious Animals” and “The Tale of Cuckoo Namjil”. The theatre mimics the architecture of a Mongolian monastery. I got to concept, design and paint traditional Mongolian design patterns and install large scale permanent murals inside and outside the theatre. I also created the theatre logo and paint series of 40 lanterns with traditional patterns for the Zoo Lights event. In total, the project collaboration lasted over six month. It was an honor to work on such a large scale project with The Denver Zoo, thank you Denver Zoo team for your cooperation.

Denver Zoo 4D Theatre project process:

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Making traditional Mongolian Furniture

I have been making one of a kind collectors edition traditional Mongolian house furnitures including customized chests. All the furniture is hand made and hand painted using Mongolian ornamental patterns. Find more furniture for sale at my SHOP.

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“Dividers″ Upcoming New Drawing & Paintings Art Exhibition @ Pirate Contemporary Art Gallery

Please join me at the opening reception of my upcoming 2016 solo art exhibition – “Dividers” – at Pirate Contemporary Art Gallery in Denver, Colorado Friday July 22, 2016 from 6-10pm. My exhibition this year will feature new drawings and paintings.

Exhibition info:
Pirate Contemporary Art Gallery
3655 Navajo Street
Denver, CO 80211

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Creating Green Tara Thangka Painting for His Holiness 14th Dalai Lama

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Relics of Mongolia
Pirate Contemporary Art Gallery
Denver, Colorado
7/31/15—8/16/15

RELICS OF MONGOLIA

Pirate Contemporary Art Gallery, Denver, Colorado
7/31/15—8/16/15


Relics of Mongolia exhibition postcard 2015

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“Relics of Mongolia″ Upcoming New Paintings & Installation Art Exhibition @ Pirate Contemporary Art Gallery

Please join me at the opening reception of my upcoming 2015 solo art exhibition – “Relics of Mongolia” – at Pirate Contemporary Art Gallery in Denver, Colorado Friday, July 31st, 2015 from 6-10pm. My exhibition this year will feature new paintings and installation art. Also, thanks greatly to my show sponsor – Denver’s Bd’s Mongolian Grill!

Exhibition info:
Pirate Contemporary Art Gallery
3655 Navajo Street
Denver, CO 80211

"Relics of Mongolia" postcard front

"Relics of Mongolia" postcard back

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MASK
Pirate Contemporary Art Gallery
Denver, Colorado
12/12/14—12/28/14

MASK

Pirate Contemporary Art Gallery, Denver, Colorado
12/12/14—12/28/14


MASK exhibition postcard

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Untitled
Pirate Contemporary Art Gallery
Denver, Colorado
11/29/13—12/15/13

“Untitled”, a collaborative exhibit by Tsogo Mijid, John Crandall, Brain Comber

Pirate Contemporary Art Gallery, Denver, Colorado
11/29/13—12/15/13


Untitled show postcard front

Untitled show postcard back

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Bizarre Foods America with Andrew Zimmern

Recently my family and I were featured on an upcoming episode (airing next year) of Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods America with Andrew Zimmern. The episode focused on the diverse cultures and foods of Denver, Colorado, with our family representing for the Colorado Mongolian community. We built a traditional ger with some of my Tsam masks inside outside my house as my wife, children and friends cooked a marvelous authentic Mongolian style sheep feast for Andrew.

Here is further reading about Andrew’s visit to Denver.

Clippings from Travel Channel’s Bizarre Foods America with Andrew Zimmern:

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The History of the “Tulga” Public Sculpture in Denver

The Tulga sculpture has been one of the biggest accomplishment in my career as an artist. Its amazing to experience the flowering of what was once an an abstract idea to what is now built, and in its physical presence, a towering 20 foot x 7’6″ stainless steel sculpture of a stylized Tulga (Mongolian for fireplace) that stand on a hill in the City of Ulaanbaatar Park of Denver, Colorado. The sculpture project undertaking was of a grand scale to say the least, spanning five years of joint efforts, dedication and hard work. There are many people who I list below that have helped make my idea come alive, but the most important support came from my family and my fellow ‘Tulga’ group whom I genuinely thank. Seeing that the Tulga sculpture opening ceremony will be coming up on May 24th 2009, I thought it would be a tremendous idea to chronicle the history of how the sculpture came to life.

The city of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and Denver have been sister cities for five years in 2004. In recognition of this long held bond, the city of Denver has distilled their wonderful legacy and the Lowry district of Colorado has named their public park, “City of Ulaanbaatar Park”. This was perfect timing as the much anticipated “800 years of Mongolia’s statehood celebration” frenzy started up in 2005. In January of that year, the Colorado Mongolian Community Association (MCAC) held an important board meeting, and being a MCAC member, I suggested an idea of creating some type of a memorabilia both in recognition of the Mongolian culture at the City of Ulaanbaatar Park and Mongolia’s 800 year statehood celebration. I received positive feedback which marked the beginning of my journey to finding the identity and form of the Mongolian “Tulga” symbol into a sculpture.

Coming up with the concept of The Tulga sculpture was an important endeavor for me being that it was the first permanent public sculpture designed and built by a Mongolian artist in America. In the Mongolian culture, the Tulga is an open fireplace representing the spirit of the most esteemed piece of the nomad household. But the legacy of the Tulga spreads beyond just the project itself, establishing a rather deep rooted symbolic footing for the ethnic identity and migration of Mongolians that reside in America.

If we contrast America’s landscape as the inner structure of the mongol ger, Denver-Colorado positions at the center mimicking exactly where the Tulga (fireplace) takes place inside the traditional structure of a ger (Mongolian tent like house). I also took into account the symbolic reference of the Tulga being located in Colorado as referencing a greater emotional importance to all Mongolians in America. Colorado signifies the first state to which the first Mongolian immigrants called home, and just as we would when we build a new ger, we center the Tulga, start the fire, give birth to and raise our children, learn, grow, and educate, work hard for a chance at a better life, and most importantly, leaving the Tulga flames sparking for future generation to keep lit.

In addition to being a symbol of warmth and comfort, the Tulga Sculpture represents the spirit of the home. The three rings represent the sun, the moon, and the stars. The top of the four legs are sculpted to imitate a birds head,  the birds which protect the fire. For the base mount of the sculpture, I decided to incorporate/engrave the symbol of the endless knot pattern in the center of the circular base platform, which represent infinity and eternal bliss, foreboding an eternity of good omen for our children and the people who visit the park. The specific positioning of the sculpture also equate the Tulga in alignment with the earth, as each of its four legs are an alignment to the four cardinal directions.

The symbolic motivation and meaning behind the Tulga sculpture was of great significance but in order to gain official approval of the sculpture proposal, I introduced my idea to the board of the Ulaanbaatar – Denver Sister Cities International and gained full support. In 2006, the Colorado Mongolian Community Association granted also officially granted my proposal, and created the ‘Tulga’ group consisting of Naranzul ( 2006 MCAC president), Zolzaya (2006 MCAC vise president), and myself as the author of the sculpture. And with an equipped team, we early started the proposal initiation.

The Mongolians in Denver became the first to contribute to the project fundraising efforts, donating an estimated $2,084. In the following two years from 2007-2009, our Tulga group furiously went about the projects expansive financial undertaking; assembling paper works, vying for project approval from various official organizations of the city, receiving contracts and doing the utmost to raise funding. But even after our yearly efforts, we lacked in funds so as of May 2007, we proposed the project to members of the Mongolian Parliament. We hopes to gain support from Mongolia but in the long run, out proposal was not granted. In our final funding attempts, we looked to the members of the Lowry Community with an introductory video that explained the Mongolian culture, lifestyle and traditions. We were happy to find that the Lowry community responded in great support to the project, agreeing to provide us with the remaining funds with an even further request to increase the height of the sculpture to 20 feet which was two times its original length. We happily obliged to this request. And with its new alteration, the Tulga sculpture was officially noted as a landmark achievement for its size, design, and idea as the first public art statue created by a Mongolian artist in America.

Throughout the span of the project, I contributed a great amount of my own funds but I also wanted to acknowledge and thank the numerous other people who made the Tulga sculpture a possible feat. Generous contributions were made by the Kohn Family Foundation, Lowry Foundation, Wagner Asia, Fognani & Faught Company, Richard Hoffman, Jim & Mary Lee, Marilee Hegarty, Ward & Kary Polzan, Mayfair Park Community, Anita Hinsdale, and all the Mongolians, with special thanks to the Mongolians in Seattle, who have donated to the project. Below is an allocation summary of the funds according to the individuals and companies I’ve listed above:

85% of funds were received from outside organizations, companies, and fundraising efforts
10% of funds were received from Mongolian communities
5% of funds were received from outside communities

Here are a few of the pictures that document the creation process of the Tulga Sculpture during different phases, years, and seasons:


(All pictures and content in this post are © 2004-2009 Tsogtsaikhan Mijid and cannot be used for commercial purposes. If you are interested in using any photographs and or text, please send your request here)

You can also go to my exhibitions page to see pictures from the Opening Ceremony on May 24 2009.

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