Mark
Tobey
Mark Tobey, a distinctive Abstract Expressionist, is celebrated for his 'white writing'—a mesh of calligraphic and abstract elements. If you’re looking for Mark Tobey original prints and editions for sale or would like to sell, request a complimentary valuation and browse our network’s most in-demand works.
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Biography
Mark Tobey, born in Centerville, Wisconsin, in 1890, is an American artist whose innovative work left a mark on the landscape of Abstract Art. Renowned for his distinctive style, characterised by intricate, calligraphic brushwork inspired by Eastern spirituality and philosophy, Tobey is often credited with pioneering an 'all-over' style of painting that prefigured the Abstract Expressionist movement. His art seeks to capture the dynamic rhythms of the cosmos and the interconnectedness of all life.
In his early life, Tobey became interested in spirituality which would later become the bedrock of his artistic vision. Deeply influenced by the Bahá'í faith, to which he converted in 1918, Tobey's concept of integrating the physical and spiritual worlds through art became central to his work. His education at the Art Institute of Chicago provided him with the foundational skills that he would later expand and subvert in his mature style.
In the 1930s and 1940s, Tobey's travels to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East played a crucial role in his artistic development. His experiences in the Far East, particularly in China and Japan, were transformative to his artistic voice. He studied calligraphy and became fascinated with the flow and spontaneity of Eastern script, which he synthesised with an abstract vocabulary to create his signature 'white writing' style. This technique, involving a dense, rhythmic weave of white or light-coloured lines on darker backgrounds, allowed Tobey to express a sense of cosmic unity and the interconnectedness of matter and spirit.
Tobey's printmaking also played a significant role in his broader practice. His 1971 aquatint, Movement in White, exemplifies his late 'white writing' style. The piece features an overlay of white calligraphic brushstrokes over an abstract field of muted colour, creating a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. This method, which gave rise to the 'all-over' painting style later made famous by Jackson Pollock, reflects Tobey's continuous exploration of the interplay between order and chaos, light and darkness.
Throughout his career, Tobey participated in numerous significant exhibitions, earning critical acclaim and public recognition. He was the first American painter since James McNeill Whistler to win the International Grand Prize at the Venice Biennale in 1958, affirming his position as an artist of international acclaim. His influence can be seen in the work of later Abstract Expressionists who also sought to capture the intangible essence and movement of life.