Okeeffe

Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986) stood as a significant presence in modern American art for nearly seventy years. Her enduring fame wasn't tethered to fleeting art movements but was rooted in her distinct vision that sought out the essence and abstraction within nature itself. O’Keeffe's work often revolved around themes like landscapes, flowers, and bones, which she revisited in series over time. Some of her series extended over decades, resulting in numerous iterations of a single theme. Her enlarged depictions of calla lilies and irises are among her most celebrated pieces. By amplifying even the smallest petals to dominate the canvas, she developed an early abstract lexicon of lines and forms, thus earning the title “mother of American modernism.” In 1946, she was honored as the first female artist to have a solo exhibition at New York’s MoMA. This introductory volume by TASCHEN Basic Art 2.0 illuminates O’Keeffe’s extensive and radiant career through her pivotal paintings and photographs, including portraits by her husband, Alfred Stieglitz. It chronicles her groundbreaking innovations, significant achievements, and the diverse inspirations drawn from her travels across Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, and notably, New Mexico, where she was deeply moved by the region’s breathtaking landscapes, vivid hues, and distinctive flora.