Mark Tobey
Mark Tobey
Mark George Tobeywas 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...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPainter
Date of Birth11 December 1890
CountryUnited States of America
On pavements and the bark of trees I have found whole worlds.
Every artist's problem today is: What will we do with the human?
We all feel a separateness; we wish that a drop of water would soften our ego; the world needs a common conscience: agreement... we must concentrate outside ourselves.
The dimension that counts for the creative person is the space he creates within himself. This inner space is closer to the infinite than the other, and it is the privilege of the balanced mind... and the search for an equilibrium is essential - to be as aware of inner space as he is of outer space.
All of the artists congregated at our place. My folks were an anomaly since so many of the others were gay. The young guys appreciated getting a home-cooked meal there on Sunday.
We have tried to fit man into abstraction, but he does not fit.
There has been 32 isms since the advent of cubism, yet after all there are essentially the same two old strings, the Romantic and the Classical. We've just be confused by the storm. Science and psychology have played a great part to say nothing of sex.
I am accused often of too much experimentation.., but what else should I do when all other factors of man are in the same condition. I thrust forward into space as science and the rest do.
Reality must be expressed by a physical symbol.