Beyond Mysticism: The Modern Northwest

By Theresa Papanikolas

Demonstrates what made Modernist art in the Puget Sound region unique

In the early twentieth century, the Puget Sound region was home to a progressive artistic and cultural scene shaped by the region's rapid urbanization, its singular natural environment, and its orientation to the Pacific Rim. This generative milieu was fertile ground for four well-known Modernist artists--Guy Anderson, Kenneth Callahan, Morris Graves, and Mark Tobey--known as "mystics" for their shared admiration of the Pacific Northwest landscape and perceived alignment with Asian and Northwest Coast Native cultures. Beyond Mysticism: The Modern Northwest situates these artists within the broader history of Modern art in the Pacific Northwest through an exploration of key themes: industrialization, ecocriticism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism. This exhibition catalog retells the fascinating story of Northwestern Modernism to reveal the range, complexity, and significance of local Modernists--including Fay Chong, William Cumming, Z. Vanessa Helder, Kenjiro Nomura, Albert Smith Sr., Kamekichi Tokita, Julius Twohy, and James Washington Jr.--within the context of American Modernism.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0295754842
• ISBN13: 9780295754840
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: University of Washington Press
• Length: 168 Pages
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher