In his Marfa, TX studio, Laszlo Thorsen-Nagel brings new life to the ancient art of sumi-e, an East Asian ink wash painting tradition rooted in simplicity and minimalism. His innovative approach replaces traditional brush-dipping methods with pipettes, which he uses to apply ink directly onto handmade brushes. This allows for precise control over the ink’s flow and texture, resulting in an extraordinary interplay of transparency, opacity, and density.

Laszlo’s dedication to his craft extends to making his own inks and pigments, carefully adjusting their saturation with water to achieve a harmonious balance. His brushstrokes—whether on paper, canvas, or clay—transform into luminous compositions where light and shadow converge, and negative space becomes an essential element of the narrative. With every piece, Laszlo pushes the boundaries of sumi-e, creating work that bridges the timeless and the contemporary.