A poignant artist reaches down to the depths of their creations and touches the very soul of all who absorb their vision. Here is a biography of American artist Georgia O'Keeffe, naturalist, painter and mover of souls.
Georgia O'Keefe was one of America's greatest artists. She was born in 1887 and grew up on a large Wisconsin farm. Even as a child she found beauty in the natural world, which surrounded her on the farm. Georgia O'Keefe's mother thought that art was important and provided art lessons for her children. After she graduated from high school, Georgia O'Keeffe studied art at different colleges throughout the country.
It was in New York City that Georgia O'Keeffe met Alfred Stieglitz, the famous photographer but little would she know that he would become a major promoter of her art and heart later on in her life.
As much as Georgia O'Keeffe loved the hustle, bustle and lights of the city she moved to Texas to be closer to nature. She loved the natural beauty, hot sun and clear skies. Georgia O'Keeffe was transformed from the energy that she witnessed in the lightning storms and blowing tumbleweeds of Texas. Soon, this energy was apparent in her art and Alfred Stieglitz showed a renewed interest in her.
Alfred Stieglitz believed that Georgia O'Keeffe had the potential to become a powerful artist and so he began to court Georgia O'Keefe. At first it was a professional courtship and then it became more personal.
While Georgia O'Keeffe was reluctant to leave the wilds of Texas, she agreed to move to New York and allow Alfred Stieglitz to showcase her art in his gallery.
The frantic pace of the city caused Georgia O'Keeffe to create bold pieces of art that covered her entire canvas. Her technique was unique and risky for a woman in the early 1900's. Her paintings were colorful, independent, striking and daring.
Flower paintings on video:
The life and art of Georgia O'Keeffe: (Fabulous!)
Some critics considered Georgia O'Keeffe to be too controversial in the pieces that she painted. Once again, during this time Georgia O'Keeffe continued to change and evolve. Her evolution was creating the dramatic flower paintings that made her famous and to this day are her trademark. The large flowers while to some were considered to be
risqué became a tremendous sensation not only in New York but everywhere.
Links to pictures of Georgia O'Keefe's flower paintings:
But it still was controversial in the 1920's for a woman to be so spirited, free and independent. Many people just came to gawk at what a woman artist was able to paint and they were either shocked or in awe of her pictures, which some critics said, were almost pornographic in nature.
But Georgia O'Keeffe was fiercely determined to preserve her form of personal expression and would not change her style to suit the opinions of the time. She began modeling for Alfred Stieglitz to earn money. As a photographer, he found her to be striking, elusive and very beautiful.
Georgia O'Keeffe as a model for Alfred Stieglitz-1918
However, Alfred was 22 years older than Georgia and his art was established, while hers was just beginning to become known.
Most biographers feel that Georgia O'Keeffe found Alfred Stieglitz to be her mentor more than the great passion of her life. Still, in 1924 they married and Georgia O'Keeffe maintained her maiden name, which was rather notorious at the time. But once again Georgia O'Keeffe did not allow the boundaries of society's beliefs to change the way she lived and painted.
The relationship of Georgia and Alfred in the early years of their marriage was very much collaboration and a partnership. But soon Georgia O'Keeffe began to become restless. Some friends invited her to join them in New Mexico and so Georgia left Alfred in New York and moved to New Mexico. While in New Mexico she only saw her husband a few times a year until his death in 1946.
Footage from New Mexico:s
While it is unclear if Georgia O'Keeffe ever fell in passionate love with her husband, she most certainly fell in love with the desert landscape of New Mexico. She found it wild, free and more exciting than what she enjoyed in Texas. Georgia O'Keeffe loved the mountains and their presence seemed to be alive in her paintings. Georgia O'Keeffe was reawakened as an artist in the barren terrain of New Mexico and here she would live for the rest of her life.
Links showing O'Keeffe's influence from the landscape of New Mexico:
Ansel Adams/Georgia O'Keeffe two American naturalist artists:
Georgia O'Keeffe lived a long, full life and died at the age of almost 99 years.
Georgia O'Keefe was an American inspiration that remained spirited and true to who she was during a time when women were encouraged to be traditional wives and mothers.
The spirit of Georgia O'Keeffe shines through for many when they look at the magnificence of her paintings.
For Georgia O'Keeffe found beauty in the gifts of nature, she painted in a boldness of color that reflected her soul and her philosophy of life made her a true American original.
