Mark Tobey
- Introduction
- Mark George Tobey (December 11, 1890 – April 24, 1976) was an American painter. His densely structured compositions, inspired by Asian calligraphy, resemble Abstract expressionism, although the motives for his compositions differ philosophically from most Abstract Expressionist painters. His work was widely recognized throughout the United States and Europe. Along with Guy Anderson, Kenneth Callahan, Morris Graves, and William Cumming, Tobey was a founder of the Northwest School. Senior in age and experience, he had a strong influence on the others; friend and mentor, Tobey shared their interest in philosophy and Eastern religions. Similar to others of the Northwest School, Tobey was mostly self-taught after early studies at the Art Institute of Chicago. In 1921, Tobey founded the art department at The Cornish School in Seattle, Washington.Tobey was an incessant traveler, visiting Mexico, Europe, Palestine, Israel, Turkey, Lebanon, China and Japan. After converting to the Baháʼí Faith, it became an important part of his life. Whether Tobey's all-over paintings, marked by oriental brushwork and calligraphic strokes, were an influencer on Jackson Pollock's drip paintings has been left unanswered. Born in Centerville, Wisconsin, Tobey lived in the Seattle, Washington area for most of his life before moving to Basel, Switzerland in the early 1960s with his companion, Pehr Hallsten; Tobey died there in 1976.
- Wikidata
- Q261562
- Introduction
- Beginning his career as an illustrator, Tobey was a deeply religious man, converting to the universalist Baha'i faith in 1918, which would in some way influence all of his works. After extensive traveling, including a period of time at a Zen monastary in Japan, Tobey taught art and philosophy at Dartington Hall in England until 1937. He then developed his "white writing" technique, painting white cursive writing on dark canvas, a technique which he would use extensively until his death. As an Abstract Expressionist, Tobey's work and career stand out as different because of his strong spiritual beliefs, as well as his varying interests (he was also a classically trained pianist).
- Nationality
- American
- Gender
- Male
- Roles
- Artist, Engraver, Painter, Sculptor
- Names
- Mark Tobey, Mark George Tobey, Tobey
- Ulan
- 500012870
Exhibitions
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Degree Zero: Drawing at Midcentury
Through Jun 5
MoMA
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There Will Never Be Silence: Scoring John Cage’s
4′33″ Oct 12, 2013–Jun 22, 2014
MoMA
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Painting and Sculpture Changes 2013
Jan 1–Dec 31, 2013
MoMA
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Abstract Expressionist New York
Oct 3, 2010–Apr 25, 2011
MoMA
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The Modern Myth: Drawing Mythologies in Modern Times
Mar 10–Aug 30, 2010
MoMA
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Mark Tobey has
37 exhibitionsonline.
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Mark Tobey Winthrop Parkhurst 1916
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Mark Tobey Threading Light 1942
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Mark Tobey The Void Devouring the Gadget Era 1942
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Mark Tobey Remote Field 1944
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Mark Tobey Fata Morgana 1944
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Mark Tobey Edge of August 1953
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Mark Tobey Wild Field 1959
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Mark Tobey Space Wall 1960
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Mark Tobey Untitled 1960
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Mark Tobey Untitled 1967
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Mark Tobey Clareté I 1973
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Mark Tobey Chinese Memories 1974
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Mark Tobey Meanders 1976, published posthumously
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Mark Tobey Enter the Garden, plate I from Meanders 1976
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Mark Tobey Song for a Listener, plate II from Meanders 1976
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Mark Tobey Entwined Lines, plate III from Meanders 1976
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Mark Tobey Scattered Light, plate IV from Meanders 1976
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Mark Tobey Faraway Island, plate V from Meanders 1976
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Mark Tobey Forest Paths, plate VI from Meanders 1976
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Mark Tobey Indian Summer, plate VII from Meanders 1976
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Mark Tobey Early Frost, plate VIII from Meanders 1976
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Mark Tobey Galaxies, plate IX from Meanders 1976
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