Beyond Mysticism: The Modern Northwest
Lineup
Mark Tobey (1890–1976) was an American abstract painter known for his densely calligraphic compositions inspired by Asian brushwork and Eastern philosophy. A founder of the Northwest School and classically trained pianist, Tobey's spiritual approach to abstraction—influenced by his conversion to the Baháʼí Faith—distinguished his work from other Abstract Expressionists.
Kenneth Callahan (1905-1986) was an American painter and muralist born in Spokane, Washington, who became one of the leading artists of the Pacific Northwest school. Largely self-taught, he is identified as one of the Northwest Mystics alongside Guy Anderson, Morris Graves, and Mark Tobey, known for expressive, vigorous brushwork depicting landscapes, dock workers, and cityscapes with a muted palette and strong…
Guy Anderson (1906-1998) was an American painter and a signal figure of the Northwest School, called "perhaps the most powerful artist to emerge from the Northwest School." His mature work drew from symbolic elements (circle, spiral, egg, seed, wave) developed through study of religious, mythical, and philosophical sources, often combined with the human figure.
Morris Graves (1910-2001) was an American painter and one of the earliest Modern artists from the Pacific Northwest to achieve national and international acclaim. A self-taught artist and member of the Northwest School, he created mystical paintings exploring consciousness through muted tones, Asian aesthetics, and personal iconography of birds and flowers.
Yvonne Twining Humber (1907-2004) was an American artist known for her Regionalist and hard-edge depictions of landscapes and cityscapes. Born in New York City and educated at the National Academy of Design and Art Students League, she gained national recognition through her work with the Works Progress Administration in the 1930s before relocating to Seattle, where she became a prominent member of the Women…