Mark Tobey

Born in Wisconsin, Tobey studied at the Art Institute in Chicago and then became a teacher at Cornish College in Seattle. Early on, the artist became very interested in European Cubism and calligraphy in East Asian painting. In Paris he came into contact with Gertrude Stein and maintained close contact with Duchamp, Feininger, Hepworth and Nicholson. Ben Nicholson in particular recognized Mark Tobey's talent early on and wrote to a friend: "I much admire his work and think that he has become one of the two or three best living artist - really a superb painter".
Mark Tobey is one of the most important pioneers of American abstract expressionism. His works are represented in numerous museums and collections.

From the 1940s, the so-called White Writings were created for the first time, leading to an artistic breakthrough. These paintings are at the beginning of "all-over" painting by other artists, such as Jackson Pollock. In 1958 Mark Tobey, together with Mark Rothko, represented the American Pavilion at the 29th Venice Biennale. His painting Capricorn is awarded the gold medal.

Mark Tobey's works were shown between 1959 and 1964 at the documenta in Kassel and in numerous exhibitions worldwide. Inspired by Ernst Beyeler, Mark Tobey moved to Basel in 1960, where he remained until his death.