Emil Bisttram

My new recently discovered artist today is Emil Bisttram. Bisttram was born in Hungry and moved to America in 1895. This artist is most noted for his work created in Santa Fe, and Taos, New Mexico. Bisttram is also credited with being one of the founding members of the Transcendental Painting Group.




Early in his career, Bisttram’s began working with spiritual, scientific, and philosophical themes. Some of his abstract creations involved the use of dynamic symmetry. He later combined this work with various spiritual systems.



Many believe Metropolis to be one of the most significant paintings by Emil Bisttram before he moved to New Mexico. The Metropolis is a large vertical oil painting on canvas.  In this painting, Bisttram used dynamic symmetry.  He included tall triangular buildings in this spectacular painting that represented skyscrapers in New York .



Emil Bisttram was thought to have played a significant role in the development of modernist forms in American art.