“I know now that most people are so closely concerned with themselves that they are not aware of their own individuality. I can see myself, and it has helped me to say what I want to say in paint.”
Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) has been called the Mother of American Modernism for her abstract paintings and minimalist, architectural lines. But to label her work and narrow our perspective about Georgia herself is to destroy the very soul of what she spent her life doing – avoiding labels and conformity.
Above the Clouds, 1962 (Photo taken at Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe)
O’Keeffe painted more with her heart than she did with her hands. When she discovered her unique style and passion for exploring an emotional connection to the natural world, she found beauty. It was far from the current cultural practices and modern life, something she believed made little time for spiritual connections to each other and self.
In art, O’Keeffe sought refuge, expression, and conversation. O’Keeffe’s Above the Clouds (1962) underscores her unique perspective. The view is O’Keeffe’s passion looking out from an airplane window. You can feel how full of endless possibilities life is – the horizon is bright and each puffy white cloud billows with a shape of its own.
Check back Wednesday to learn more about Georgia and the millions of fans who continue to seek refuge in her emotional canvas of life.
