Higher States

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Lawren S. Harris is renowned for his iconic landscape paintings that embody Canadian resilience. However, in the 1920s, a vibrant and audacious interior world began to emerge in his work, leading to a surprising shift toward abstract painting by 1934. The influence of American transcendentalism catalyzed a movement of abstract art across North America, evident in the works of artists like Georgia O'Keeffe, Marsden Hartley, Katherine Dreier, Raymond Jonson, and Harris himself. His impact resonated on both sides of the border. Drawing inspiration from Kandinsky and the writings of Emerson and Whitman, Harris and his peers turned to abstraction as a means to express elevated states of consciousness, creating art that captured the essence of modernity. As his career evolved, Harris sought greater spiritual heights, moving from majestic landscapes to profound inner experiences. This volume showcases over 75 reproductions of Harris's paintings alongside those of his contemporaries. It includes two major essays by Roald Nasgaard and Gwendolyn Owens, exploring Harris's journey through modernity and his embrace of abstraction influenced by the surrounding visual culture. This work accompanies an exhibition organized by the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, set to open in February 2017 and travel to the Glenbow Museum in October 2017.