Georgia O’KeefeGeorgia O’Keefe1887-19861887-1986

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Georgia was born 1887. When she was 10 years old she took painting lessons. By the time she was 13,

she knew she wanted to be an

artist.

O’Keefe had many art O’Keefe had many art lessons but many lessons but many

teachers discouraged teachers discouraged her.her.

They wanted her to paint They wanted her to paint what what theythey sawsaw, rather , rather than what than what she sawshe saw..

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She decided to draw what she wanted. She decided to draw what she wanted. Her vision of art was original and Her vision of art was original and

imaginative.imaginative.

Georgia studied at The Art Georgia studied at The Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Students League in New York.Students League in New York.

She eventually moved to be She eventually moved to be with her family in Virginia.with her family in Virginia.

She studied under Alon Bemont She studied under Alon Bemont at the University of Virginia.at the University of Virginia.

Finally, she learned that a painter’s Finally, she learned that a painter’s most important duty is to fill space in most important duty is to fill space in

a beautiful way.a beautiful way.

Georgia moved to Texas for a few Georgia moved to Texas for a few years and taught art in the public years and taught art in the public

schools.schools.

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She threw away all her early works.She threw away all her early works.

She began painting her surroundings in She began painting her surroundings in the desert, mostly beautiful flowers.the desert, mostly beautiful flowers.

One of Georgia’s One of Georgia’s friends sent her friends sent her

work to New work to New York.York.

Alfred Stieglitz, a Alfred Stieglitz, a powerful art powerful art

figure showed figure showed her work in his her work in his

galleries.galleries.

Georgia and Alfred Georgia and Alfred became friends became friends and in 1924 they and in 1924 they

were married.were married.

Alfred was a Alfred was a photographer.photographer.

Both of them Both of them became famous.became famous.

Almost from her very first Almost from her very first exhibition, O’Keefe had exhibition, O’Keefe had success as a painter.success as a painter.

Flowers were her Flowers were her favorite subjects favorite subjects and she would and she would

sometimes paint sometimes paint flowers very close-flowers very close-up or very far away.up or very far away.

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Georgia wanted to make us Georgia wanted to make us look at the beauty of flowers in look at the beauty of flowers in

a new light.a new light.She painted very She painted very

popular paintings of popular paintings of Oriental poppies, Oriental poppies,

calla lilies, larkspurs, calla lilies, larkspurs, hollyhocks, hollyhocks,

petunias, and petunias, and morning glories.morning glories.

In 1929, O’Keefe visited New Mexico In 1929, O’Keefe visited New Mexico and loved the landscapes.and loved the landscapes.

She moved to She moved to Taos, NM in 1946 Taos, NM in 1946 and painted there and painted there

until she was until she was almost blind. She almost blind. She kept painting until kept painting until

she died at the she died at the age of 98.age of 98. 654654

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What does your answer have to do What does your answer have to do with Georgia O’Keefe?with Georgia O’Keefe?