Learning from the East: Mark Tobey’s Formative Influences and the Artistic Bond with Teng Baiye

Volume 23, March 2026
by Phyllis Hanyang Zhong


Article Description

In this essay, Phyllis Hanyang Zhong explores how Mark Tobey’s art was profoundly shaped by East Asian influences, particularly through his mentorship with Teng Baiye. Tobey integrated Chinese brushwork, calligraphy, and Zen philosophy into his signature “white writing," emphasizing rhythm, movement, and spiritual depth. This cross-cultural engagement distinguished him from the New York School, fostering a global, contemplative approach to American modernism and expanding abstract expressionism beyond Western paradigms.


Related Keywords

Phyllis Hanyang Zhong, Mark Tobey, Teng Baiye, Chinese brushwork, calligraphy, and Zen philosophy, cross-cultural exchange, New York School, American modernism, abstract expressionism