Georgia O'Keeffe

Biography

Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986) was an American painter celebrated for her distinctive contributions to modern art and her exploration of natural forms. Born on November 15, 1887, in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, O’Keeffe displayed artistic talent early and pursued formal training at the Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Students League in New York.

O’Keeffe’s work is best known for its large-scale depictions of flowers, landscapes, and abstract forms that emphasize shape, color, and detail. Her series of flower paintings, such as Black Iris III (1926), transformed natural subjects into striking, almost abstract compositions, inviting viewers to experience them in new ways. She also became closely associated with the landscapes of New Mexico, where she captured the desert’s unique forms and colors in works like Red Hills and Pedernal (1936).

O’Keeffe played a key role in American Modernism, combining realism with abstraction and a personal, introspective vision. Married to photographer and art promoter Alfred Stieglitz, she gained international recognition for her art while maintaining a deeply individualistic approach. Georgia O’Keeffe passed away on March 6, 1986, leaving a legacy of innovation, strength, and profound influence on 20th-century art.