Description :

This serigraph by Richard Kirsten‑Daiensai features one of his signature spiritual figures, rendered in a bold, symbolic style that blends modern abstraction with East‑Asian devotional influence. At the center stands a stylized human form enclosed within a red, almond‑shaped mandorla—an ancient symbol of enlightenment and inner presence. Surrounding the figure is a rhythmic pattern of white concentric lines and geometric arcs, creating a sense of radiating energy and cosmic balance.

The upper portion bursts with white rays emanating from a single point of light, reinforcing Kirsten’s lifelong themes of illumination, harmony, and the interconnectedness of all beings. The deep blues and soft gradients in the background give the composition a meditative stillness, while the crisp linework and symmetry reflect his disciplined printmaking practice.

Artist Bio — Richard Kirsten‑Daiensai (1920–2013)

Richard Kirsten‑Daiensai was a Seattle‑based painter, printmaker, sculptor, and Zen Buddhist priest whose work blends spiritual reflection with East‑Asian aesthetics. Born in Chicago in 1920, he moved to Seattle in 1939 and studied at the University of Washington. After serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII, he worked for decades in the Seattle Post‑Intelligencer editorial art department.

Beginning in the 1950s, Kirsten traveled annually to Japan and Korea for nearly fifty years, spending extended periods in temples and mountain regions. These experiences shaped the symbolic, contemplative quality of his art. His work often features:

• stylized human figures

• cosmic or spiritual motifs

• mandorlas, radiating lines, and geometric balance

• a gentle, philosophical tone

Kirsten founded the Kirsten Gallery in Seattle’s University District, exhibiting his own work and that of other Northwest artists for decades. His pieces are held in collections including the Seattle Art Museum and the Library of Congress.