Robert A.F. Thurman is the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Columbia University, President of the Tibet House U.S., a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Tibetan civilization, and President of the American Institute of Buddhist Studies, a non-profit that is affiliated with the Center for Buddhist Studies at Columbia University and dedicated to the publication of translations of important texts from the Tibetan Tanjur.

In regards to Shinjo Ito’s art, Thurman comments that he loves the joyful, friendliness of the pieces. As for Shinjo Ito himself, he admires him for not only achieving his own enlightenment but for also being a proponent of peace during World War II.  Thurman participated in an informative panel discussion during the New York exhibit.