Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo

Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo is a textile artist, teacher, and owner of Threads of Awakening. She is known for her work in preserving and promoting the sacred Tibetan tradition of fabric art.2

Rinchen-Wongmo's journey began as a California woman who traveled to India to manage an economic development fund for the Tibetan government-in-exile. However, her path took an unexpected turn when she found herself drawn to the art of sewing Buddha images.1 This experience became a transformative journey that shaped her life's work.

As an artist, Rinchen-Wongmo specializes in creating fabric thangkas, which are traditional Tibetan Buddhist artworks. Her work has been featured in various publications, including Spirituality & Health, FiberArts, and Fiber Art Now, as well as in a documentary titled "Creating Buddhas: The Making and Meaning of Fabric Thangkas".1

In addition to her artistic pursuits, Rinchen-Wongmo is also an educator. She created the Stitching Buddhas virtual apprentice program, an online course that teaches the art of Tibetan appliqué to stitchers around the world. This program aims to bridge Eastern and Western traditions, as well as traditional and contemporary approaches to the art form.1

Rinchen-Wongmo has documented her experiences and insights in a book titled "Threads of Awakening: An American Woman's Journey into Tibet's Sacred Textile Art." This work is described as part art book, part memoir, and part spiritual travelogue, offering readers a blend of adventure and introspection.13

After spending two decades abroad, Leslie Rinchen-Wongmo returned to her native Southern California, where she currently resides in Oxnard, CA.1