TSIMSHIAN FORMLINE ART

Northern Northwest Coast art (Tsimshian, Tlingit, Haida) is characterized by the “formline” style—flowing black lines that swell and taper to create ovoids and U-forms composing animals and ancestors. Seen on everything from bentwood boxes to tattoos, this design system is an inclusive heritage art of coastal First Nations, renowned globally for its sophistication and unity of art and environment.