Gallery Mcube is unveiling ‘Yala Yatra: Walking, Working, Worshiping’, a solo exhibition of new works by American artist Peter Makela on August 1. The artworks were created during his month-long stay at the AIR_MCUBE International Artists Residency in July 2025.

AIR_MCUBE, established in 2011 and hosted by Gallery Mcube, is an international residency programme in Nepal. It provides a platform for artists, writers, photographers, media and sound artists, and composers to immerse themselves in art practices ranging from painting and printmaking to sculpture, performance, and multimedia installations.

For the July 2025 residency, Gallery Mcube hosted Makela, an international artist and assistant professor of art at Edgewood University in Madison, Wisconsin. Makela holds a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art. As a 2022 Fulbright Student Researcher to Nepal, his journey has been shaped by the spiritual and cultural richness of the Himalayas.

‘Yala Yatra: Walking, Working, Worshiping’ presents a personal and meditative body of work that reflects Makela’s spiritual engagement with the sacred architecture and cultural rhythms of the Kathmandu Valley.

“One of my favourite days in Nepal was the Patan Mataya in 2022, a 30-mile pilgrimage through over 130 sacred sites. That experience changed my life. During my residency, I visited stupas and Ganapati shrines daily, offering incense and walking three kora (circumambulating a sacred site) around each one. This practice shaped each painting I’ve made,” says Makela.

Manish Lal Shrestha, the gallery’s founder and director, says, “Makela’s approach is ritualistic, spiritual, and rooted in the cultural essence of the Kathmandu Valley. His artistic practice reflects his dedication and love for Nepal’s traditions.”

The exhibit will be on display until August 5.

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Yala Yatra: Walking, Working, Worshiping

Where: Gallery Mcube, Lalitpur

When: August 1 to August 5

Time: Every day from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm

Entry: Free