Georgia O'Keeffe

Georgia O'Keeffe was a pioneering American artist. She was born in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, in 1887. She is best known for her close-up paintings of flowers and scenes of the American Southwest. She is called the Mother of American Modernism.

Early Life

O'Keeffe knew she wanted to be an artist by age 10. She studied art at schools in Chicago and New York. She became an art teacher in Texas. She fell in love with the wide open spaces of the American West.

A photograph believed to show a young Georgia O'Keeffe.
A photograph believed to show a young Georgia O'Keeffe. (Hilda Belcher / Wikimedia Commons)

Big Achievements

O'Keeffe's giant flower paintings made her famous. She moved to New Mexico and painted the desert, bones, and skies. Her style was bold and modern. She kept creating art until she was in her 90s. She is one of the most important American artists of the 1900s.

Fun Facts

  • O'Keeffe painted some flowers so large they filled an entire canvas.
  • She lived and painted in New Mexico for over 40 years.
  • She kept creating art even after she began losing her eyesight.

Did You Know?

O'Keeffe once said that nobody sees a flower really because it is so small. She painted flowers big so people would take the time to look at them closely.