The Sunday Edit | Georgia O'Keeffe: An Iconic All-American Woman Artist
Georgia O'Keeffe, Cow’s Skull- Red, White, and Blue, 1931. Source/The Metropolitan Museum of Art
In the spirit of Independence Day, we'd like to salute the iconic, all-American 20th century artist Georgia O'Keeffe who captured the spiritual and cosmic sides of our nation's landscape.
Earlier in the season we highlighted some must-see art exhibitions this summer in New York City. Our Marketing Director Heather Zises recently ventured into Gotham to view the newly mounted O'Keeffe exhibition, To See Takes Time at Museum of Modern Art. For this week's edition, Heather chose to share her impressions and champion the artist’s flourishing marketplace.
Installation view of Georgia O'Keeffe Over Blue, 1918 pastel on paper; Georgia O'Keeffe, Music-Pink and Blue No. 1, 1918 at MoMA. Source/Heather Zises.
Georgia O'Keeffe, renowned for her stunning and distinctive artwork, continues to captivate art enthusiasts worldwide. Her masterful portrayal of nature, abstract forms, and vivid landscapes has left an indelible mark on the art world. Best known for her flower paintings, O’Keeffe (1887–1986) also made extraordinary series of works in charcoal, pencil, watercolor, and pastel. Reuniting works on paper that are often seen individually, along with key paintings, To See Takes Time offers a rare glimpse of the artist’s working methods and invites us to take time to look.
Installation of Georgia O'Keeffe works at MoMA: No. 8 Special (Drawing No. 8), 1916, charcoal on paper; No. 12 Special, 1916, charcoal on paper. Source/ Heather Zises.
Over her long career, O’Keeffe revisited and reworked the same subjects, developing, repeating, and transforming motifs that lie between observation and abstraction. Between 1915 and 1918, a breakthrough period of experimentation, she made as many works on paper as she would during the next four decades, producing progressions of bold lines, organic landscapes and nudes, as well as the radically abstract charcoals she called “specials.”
Georgia O'Keeffe, Jimson Weed, White Flower No. 1, 1932. Source/ ATX Fine Arts.
Today, the marketplace for Georgia O'Keeffe paintings is experiencing a vibrant surge in popularity, as collectors and admirers seek to acquire her iconic works. The demand for Georgia O'Keeffe paintings remains unparalleled, with her pieces fetching remarkable prices at auctions and galleries. Jimson Weed, White Flower No. 1, 1932, which marks a watershed in auction history, brought $44.4 million at a sale at Sotheby's in New York in November 2014. It broke the record for being the most expensive paid painting for an O'Keeffe work.
Recently auctioned works by Georgia O'Keeffe, L-R clockwise: Black Iris VI, 1936; White Rose with Larkspur No. 1, 1927; On the Old Santa Fe Road, c. 1930-1931. Source/ Christie's and Artsy.
Recent Auction Results for Georgia O'Keeffe Paintings
May 11, 2023, Christie's
Black Iris VI, 1936
Estimate: $5,000,000 USD – $7,000,000 USD
Sale Price: $21,110,000 USD
May 10, 2023, Sotheby's
On the Old Santa Fe Road, circa 1930-1931
Estimate: $4,000,000 USD – $6,000,000 USD
Sale Price: $7,885,000 USD
November 9, 2022, Christie's
White Rose with Larkspur No. 1, 1927
Estimate: $6,000,000 USD – $8,000,000 USD
Sale Price: $26,725,000 USD
Installation view of Georgia O'Keeffe, Goat's Horns with Blue, 1945, pastel on paper at MoMA. Source/ Heather Zises.
O'Keeffe's artwork strikes a harmonious balance between realism and abstraction, enticing both seasoned collectors and new art enthusiasts. Each stroke of her brush brings forth a sense of awe-inspiring beauty, connecting viewers with the essence of the natural world. Apart from their aesthetic appeal, Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings have also become sought-after investments. As one of the most celebrated American artists of the 20th century, her works consistently appreciate in value over time. Collectors recognize the enduring appeal and significance of O'Keeffe's art, making it a prudent investment choice.