Description :

“The Flower of Transcendence” is a symbolic and meditative print by Richard Kirsten‑Daiensai, blending his signature spiritual iconography with a serene, contemplative composition. At the center sits a stylized figure in a cross‑legged posture, rendered in Kirsten’s familiar simplified forms and gentle curves. Three blossoms radiate around the figure—each representing stages of awakening and inner clarity—echoing the artist’s lifelong engagement with Zen philosophy and temple imagery.

The palette is soft yet purposeful, with blues, pinks, and warm accents creating a sense of quiet illumination. The figure’s calm expression and grounded pose invite the viewer into the stillness at the heart of Kirsten’s work. Signed, titled, and numbered 8/75, this print is a strong example of his late‑20th‑century spiritual modernism.

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

Richard Kirsten‑Daiensai was a Seattle‑based painter, printmaker, sculptor, and Zen Buddhist priest whose work blends modernist forms with East Asian spiritual traditions. Born in Chicago and later settling in Seattle, he studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of Washington, served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, and spent nearly fifty years traveling annually to Japan and Korea. These travels deeply shaped his artistic language.

His art centers on themes of contemplation, gratitude, cosmic connection, and the quiet humor of everyday life. Kirsten’s work is held in collections including the Seattle Art Museum and the Library of Congress, and he remains one of the Pacific Northwest’s most beloved spiritual modernists.

17 x 19.5