CategoryOn the Cover

The painting on this issue’s cover, Rocky Mountain Landscape (1870), by Albert Bierstadt (1830–1902), captures the majesty and grandeur of one of America’s most iconic natural wonders. Celebrated for his majestic landscapes of the American West, Bierstadt traveled extensively through the Rocky Mountains during the 19th century, creating luminous landscapes that conveyed both the beauty

Hug. Love. Amor. Robert Indiana (1928–2018) transformed these letters and words into bold visual compositions. Through his distinctive style, he turned ordinary language into powerful visual statements.  Robert Indiana was born Robert Clark in New Castle, Indiana. He was adopted as an infant and, throughout his childhood, his family moved throughout the Midwest. After graduating

The Soka University of America (SUA) community is mourning the passing of Junichi Miura—an accomplished painter, children’s book author and devoted supporter of SUA who died March 9 in Ueda, Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Since 2011, Miura has sent the SUA community a gift every spring: a new painting celebrating that year’s graduating class. His detailed

Pilar Pobil (1926–2024) built a life defined by expression—both on canvas and in the way she connected with others. Born in Mallorca, Spain, she moved to the United States in 1956, later settling in Salt Lake City, where her artistic journey would unfold. Although she began painting in her 40s, Pobil approached art with a

Arthur Garfield Dove (1880–1946) was an American painter and a pioneering figure in early modernism, widely regarded as one of the first artists in the United States to embrace a fully abstract style. Born in Canandaigua, New York, and raised in Geneva, Dove initially pursued illustration, studying at Cornell University before moving to New York

Hilary Pecis is a contemporary American artist known for her vibrant and saturated paintings that transform ordinary scenes into rich details and joyful compositions. Born in California in 1979, Pecis grew up in an environment that encouraged creativity. From an early age, she developed an interest in art, inspired by visual elements she encountered while

Merging the line between fine art and everyday objects, Jasper Johns (1930–) became a pivotal figure in the development of Pop Art. Johns was born in Georgia and raised in South Carolina. From an early age, he showed a strong interest in art, which later became his passion and career. He briefly studied art at

David Hockney (1937 –) was born in England and later moved between the U.K. and the United States before settling in California at age 41. He lived in Malibu and the Hollywood Hills, becoming deeply inspired by the light and colors of Los Angeles. The brightness and atmosphere of the city strongly influenced his artistic

High in the skyline of Philadelphia stands a towering statue of William Penn, watching over the city he helped shape. The sculpture placed on top of Philadelphia City Hall, is one of its most recognizable landmarks. Alexander Milne Calder (1846–1923) created this famous monument and many other sculptures that decorate Philadelphia City Hall. Born in

Waking up early in the morning to sketch gardens in delicate sunlight, and later turning these quiet moments into radiant color, Frederick Childe Hassam developed a lifelong fascination with light that would shape his art. Born in Boston in 1859, Hassam grew into one of the leading figures of American Impressionism through his atmospheric scenes.

Through the eyes of Tom Christopher, New York City is not simply a place—it is a living, cinematic force. Born in Hollywood and trained as a classical draftsman at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Christopher studied under legendary Disney animator Ward Kimball and painter Lorser Feitelson before forging a career that ranged from

West to Life Born in Fresno, California, Maynard Dixon (1875–1946)—often called “The Last Cowboy in San Francisco”—was an American painter known for his depictions of the western United States. The nickname reflects the way Dixon carried the spirit of the West with cowboys, deserts and vast landscapes into a time when the Old West was

Acclaimed Native American sculptor Michael Naranjo’s work appears on this week’s World Tribune cover. During the Vietnam War, a grenade took Naranjo’s eyesight and permanently maimed his right hand. Amid his recovery in Japan, Naranjo began sculpting with clay, and with relentless practice, turned his passion into a career. To be sure, his work became

Terrance Osborne was born, in 1974, in New Orleans, a city full of culture that greatly influenced his art. From a young age, he was surrounded by artistic talent and often saw his family creating art while he was at home. Seeing this inspired him to develop a strong passion for art early in his

Born in New Jersey in 1940, Joan Snyder is known for her abstract paintings characterized by expressive brushstrokes. In contrast to her earlier artworks, which focused on landscapes such as farm scenes, Snyder later developed a more personal artistic style that incorporates materials and symbolic imagery, helping her gain wider recognition. Snyder grew up with

The famed Hau Tree Grove is situated in the patio of Honolulu’s Kaimana Hotel with its expansive views of Waikiki Beach. A scene in volume 1 of The New Human Revolution describes how Ikeda Sensei and his delegation arrived at the hotel late into the night on Oct. 2, 1960, after waiting at the airport

“Mont Sainte-Victoire and Château Noir” is among the paintings that French artist Paul Cézanne (1839–1906) captured of the mountain he loved near his birthplace in Aix-en-Provence, France. Admiring the indomitable spirit of Cézanne and the beauty of his work, Ikeda Sensei wrote the essay “Mont Sainte-Victoire: A Mountain of Sacred Victory in Provence, Southern France.”

Born in Norway in 1863, Edvard Munch was known for expressing intense emotions through his art, helping shape early Expressionism. Many of his works carry a dark, somber mood shaped by the loss of his mother and sister to illness during his childhood. His famous painting The Scream (1893) demonstrates how he conveyed emotions through

Through a dynamic mix of painting, sculpture and mixed media, abstract art comes to life with cultural storytelling and community activism in Suzanne Fitzallen Jackson’s work.  She was born in 1944 in St. Louis and in 1952, moved with her family to Alaska. At 16, she became the first African American girl selected to attend

Saturated colors. Realistic images. Subtle satire. The famous American Gothic (1930) artist, Grant DeVolson Wood, born in 1891 in Anamosa, Iowa, was a leading figure in the Regionalism art movement that depicted rural Midwestern life and scenery. At a young age, Wood lost his father and began living with his mother and brothers, working for