Masterworks, a regularly changing exhibition at the Rubin, explores major strands in the development of Himalayan art, covering a period of over one thousand years, and presents regional artistic traditions in their broad cultural, geographic, historical, and stylistic contexts. The 2017 iteration of this exhibition draws primarily from the Rubin collection and is augmented by a few select long-term loans.

Masterworks is organized geographically, showcasing the diverse regional traditions of western Tibet, central Tibet, eastern Tibet, and Bhutan in relation to the neighboring areas of India, Kashmir, Nepal, China, and Mongolia.

A special area of the gallery is devoted to an extensive display of all 59 folio of The White Beryl, a prominent recent acquisition and an exquisitely illuminated manuscript illustrating the Tibetan system of elemental divination.