Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) was one of the most influential and groundbreaking artists of the 20th century. Her trademark style, a mixture of abstraction and realism, has been hugely inspirational to successive generations of emerging talent, and her iconic imagery is recognised internationally. As an American modernist, Georgia O’Keeffe played an important role in transforming Western art. But who was the woman behind these landmark creations?

Early Life and Education

Georgia O’Keeffe was born in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, on the 15th November 1887. She was the second of seven children and the eldest daughter. Her father was an Irish-American pastor and her mother a housewife.

O’Keeffe’s art talent first emerged at a youthful age. She was strongly encouraged by her parents and her art teacher in high school to pursue her artistic endeavors. After graduating from high school in 1905, she attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago until 1907 and then travelled to New York’s Columbia University Teacher’s College to complete her teaching certificate in 1908. Her desire to become an artist was so strong that she continually rejected an academic career in favour of art.

Career as an Artist

In 1909, Georgia O’Keeffe exhibited her work for the first time in an art show in Chicago, where she displayed two charcoal drawings. Her work caught the eye of the photographer and gallery owner Alfred Stieglitz who, impressed by the talent of the young female artist, generously offered to take photos of O’Keeffe and exhibit her paintings in his gallery in New York City.

From 1915 to 1936, O’Keeffe was a part of Stieglitz’s Kodak moments. Using the medium of photography, Alfred Stieglitz not only introduced O’Keeffe to society, but revealed the female artist to a larger world of artistic freedom, invention and experimentation. During this time, Georgia O’Keeffe was able to develop her signature style and become one of the most celebrated and recognisable female artists of her time.

The Artwork of Georgia O’Keeffe

Georgia O’Keeffe is known for her iconic abstracted interpretations of flowers, landscapes, bones and skyscrapers. O’Keeffe’s works are strong representations of every shape and form and she developed her own unique style, with bold colours and compositions.

Her creative expression was inspired by what she experienced during her travels across the United States. Her magnified depictions of flower petals, glistening deserts and mountainous backgrounds were among the most iconic iconic images ever created. She liked to depict the desert and its colourful skies, and the vibrant flowers found in the southwestern desert regions of the United States.

O’Keeffe received critical acclaim for her works, many of which were exhibited in major art galleries, including the legendary Whitney Museum of American Art. O’Keeffe commented that her flowers were “often taken for something like a symbol but that was never my pattern”, although she did agree that stemmed from her closet observations of nature.

Legacy

Georgia O’Keeffe was an influential part of American modernism and 1920s art movement. Following her death in 1986, museums such as the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe and the Met Breuer Madison Avenue in New York, have continued to maintain, catalogue and present her artwork.

Georgia O’Keeffe’s work continues to inspire young, emerging artists to embrace the freedom of creativity, and to create artwork with no pretension, which is still relevant and alive today. The cultural impact of her artwork has influenced a broad spectrum of art, music and fashion.

With her bold and distinctive abstract compositions, Georgia O’Keeffe changed the way American art was seen. She was brave and determined to pursue her passion, undaunted by any obstacle or opinion. We may never know exactly who Georgia O’Keeffe was as a woman, but her stunning artwork and influence on the art world live on.