A new Georgia O'Keeffe exhibit opens a window to unfamiliar works

When you think of Georgia O Keeffe, painting flowers or landscapes might spring to mind. However, her architectural works are less familiar. A new exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts aims to change that perspective, showcasing her architectural creations through an introspective lens.

Curator Ben Colman explains that flower paintings only comprise around 10% of her body of work. The exhibit delves into the sites where O Keeffe lived and created, revealing the formative influences on her as an artist. Born in 1887 on a Wisconsin dairy farm, she found inspiration in her surroundings.

O Keeffe's painting "My Shanty, Lake George" aimed to challenge her perceived limitations as an artist. She was mindful of selecting subjects that didn't conform to traditional feminine compositions. Later, in Manhattan during the 1920s, she observed skyscrapers redefining the city, which inspired her to focus on "sky shapes" - the negative space of sky, moon, and clouds framed by buildings.

Her final home in New Mexico introduced her to adobe structures and desert landscapes. Over her career, she completed approximately 140 architectural paintings, each exploring the nature of places she called home and the interplay of light, atmosphere, and texture.

O Keeffe passed away in 1986 at the age of 98, leaving behind a vast legacy that solidified her place in American art. The exhibit "Georgia O Keeffe: Architecture" at the Detroit Institute of Arts runs through January 3, 2027, offering a fresh glimpse into the artist's life and work.