Beyond Mysticism: The Modern Northwest
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Inspired by the region’s natural beauty and rapidly changing city, this exhibition showcases artists who told the raw story of Seattle in the 20th century. By sharing the Pacific Northwest’s perspective through trending art styles—including Social Realism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism—these artists offered a unique take on Modernist art and challenged the “mystic” label ascribed to their works.
Spearheading the movement were local icons Mark Tobey, Kenneth Callahan, Guy Anderson, and Morris Graves—but the range and breadth of Pacific Northwest art goes beyond the “Big Four” of the Northwest School. Featuring more than 150 pieces, this exhibition showcases works that investigate the complexities of daily life in the region. Whether applying an ecocritical lens or producing dreamy and uncanny visuals, these artists expressed the duality of the natural world and city life to warn of the environmental and social impacts of industrialization.
From Malcolm Roberts to Kenjiro Nomura, learn how Northwest artists applied their regional perspective to broader artistic developments to create a new form of American Modernism.
The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue authored by Theresa Papanikolas, SAM’s Ann M. Barwick Curator of American Art.
Upcoming Dates
- Tue, Jun 2, 2026 All Day
- Wed, Jun 3, 2026 All Day
- Thu, Jun 4, 2026 All Day
- Fri, Jun 5, 2026 All Day
- Sat, Jun 6, 2026 All Day
- Sun, Jun 7, 2026 All Day
- Mon, Jun 8, 2026 All Day
- Tue, Jun 9, 2026 All Day
- Wed, Jun 10, 2026 All Day
- Thu, Jun 11, 2026 All Day
- Fri, Jun 12, 2026 All Day
- Sat, Jun 13, 2026 All Day
- Sun, Jun 14, 2026 All Day
- Mon, Jun 15, 2026 All Day
- Tue, Jun 16, 2026 All Day
- Wed, Jun 17, 2026 All Day
- Thu, Jun 18, 2026 All Day
- Fri, Jun 19, 2026 All Day
- Sat, Jun 20, 2026 All Day
- Sun, Jun 21, 2026 All Day
- Mon, Jun 22, 2026 All Day
- Tue, Jun 23, 2026 All Day
- Wed, Jun 24, 2026 All Day
- Thu, Jun 25, 2026 All Day
- Fri, Jun 26, 2026 All Day
- Sat, Jun 27, 2026 All Day
- Sun, Jun 28, 2026 All Day
- Mon, Jun 29, 2026 All Day
- Tue, Jun 30, 2026 All Day
- Wed, Jul 1, 2026 All Day
- …and 32 more
Hours
SAM Downtown- Free on the First Thursday of Each Month!
Thursday: 10am-5pm
Asian Art Museum- Free on the Last Friday of Each Month!
Friday: 10am-5pm
Olympic Sculpture Park- Free Always!
Open daily
Opens 30 minutes prior to sunrise
Closes 30 minutes after sunset