Transcendental Paintings & New Mexico

When one thinks of Southwestern art, especially that of New Mexico, abstract pieces may not first come to mind. Realism seems to reign supreme given the landscape and rich cultures present here, but there was a group of artists that wished to challenge that.

The Transcendental Painting Group (TPG) was formed in New Mexico in 1938 by eight artists who believed art could reflect something higher and more profound. Among them were Raymond Jonson, a professor of art at the University of New Mexico, Emil Bisttram, and Canadian artist Lawren Harris.

Raymond Jonson (1891-1982) - “Watercolor #15”, 1940, watercolor, 19 x 26 ⅞ in.

Born from a mix of emerging philosophical movements like Theosophy, social anxieties during WWII, and a rebellion against the ubiquitous realism of the day, the TPG sought to transcend the status quo. It was more than the abstraction of form found in European Cubism and Fauvism, but a visual representation of the Godlike spirit found in every person.

As Jonson put it, “I believe that through the abstract and non-objective we will be able to state at least a portion of what life means.”

Emil Bisttram (1895-1976) - “In Coming”, 1950, lithograph, 9 x 9 ½ in.

Emil Bisttram (1895-1976) - “Two of a Kind”, 1960, oil on canvas, 48 x 32 in.

Each artist had his or her own unique vision and motivation behind their work. For Emil Bisttram, these artistic experiments were not about emotionalism, but were inspired by his interest in geometry, math, and science. This intellectualism came naturally to Bisttram as he was an inwardly focused individual unusually devoted to all of his ideals and pursuits, which included yoga, vegetarianism, and even sexual abstinence. 

The TPG saw some success with a group exhibition at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco. That same year, the group had shows at the World’s Fair in New York, the New Mexico Museum of Fine Art in Santa Fe, and the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

Raymond Jonson (1891-1982) - “Polymer #5”, 1969, acrylic/board, 25 x 29 in.

Raymond Jonson (1891-1982) - “Tryptich”, acrylic on panel, 12 ¾ x 12 ¾ (each piece) - (Sold as one piece)

Though many of the artists in the TPG continued their experimental work, due to the ending of WWII and other outstanding factors, the group began to dissolve in the 1940s. They were often derided as eccentrics and radical intellectualists, but their work gave artists a way of expressing the otherwise inexpressible and created a visual landscape for the human spirit.

Raymond Jonson (1891-1982) - “Watercolor #35”, 1943, watercolor, 26 ¾ x 19 in.

These pieces are currently available at Nedra Matteucci Galleries in Santa Fe, NM. To inquire, call 505-982-4631 or email us at inquiry@matteucci.com.

Sources:

The University of New Mexico Art Museum

https://artmuseum.unm.edu/raymond-jonson-web-portal/tpg/ 

Apollo Magazine

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/transcendental-painting-group-new-mexico/