Georgia O'Keeffe

Georgia O'Keeffe, born on November 15, 1887, was a pioneering American modernist painter and draftswoman whose artistic journey spanned an impressive seven decades. Renowned as the 'Mother of American modernism', O'Keeffe's work was characterized by its independence from major art movements, focusing instead on the beauty of natural forms. Her iconic paintings of flowers, hills, and desert landscapes drew inspiration from the environments she inhabited, particularly in New Mexico.

O'Keeffe's artistic education began in 1905 at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she honed her skills as a commercial illustrator and teacher to fund her studies. Influenced by Arthur Wesley Dow, she developed a distinctive style through her watercolors and charcoal drawings, particularly during her time at the University of Virginia. Her breakthrough came in 1916 when Alfred Stieglitz, an influential art dealer and photographer, showcased her work, marking the beginning of her rise to fame.

In June 1918, O'Keeffe moved to New York at Stieglitz's invitation, where they cultivated both a professional and personal relationship, culminating in their marriage on December 11, 1924. Throughout her career, she created numerous abstract works, including her famous close-ups of flowers, which some interpreted as representations of femininity, a notion O'Keeffe consistently refuted. The intimate photographs taken by Stieglitz further fueled this interpretation.

After living in New York until 1929, O'Keeffe began to spend part of her year in the Southwest, which profoundly influenced her art. She moved permanently to New Mexico in 1949, three years after Stieglitz's passing, and resided at her home and studio in Abiquiú for the next four decades. Her painting, Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1, sold for a staggering ,405,000 in 2014, setting a record for the highest price paid for a work by a female artist. Today, her legacy is preserved in various museum collections, including the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum established in Santa Fe.