Georgia O’Keeffe: The Secrets of Her Success Part 1
Introduction
Georgia O’Keeffe was one of the most important and influential American artists of the twentieth century. This claim is supported by the recognition that she received, the impact that she had on the art world, and her financial success as a working artist. She is one of less the than four hundred artists worldwide with a museum dedicated solely to their work (Larson 12). It is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico and receives an average of five thousand visitors per week (13). She was among the few women “who forged their own paths . . . despite many hardships and setbacks” (Lynch 47) and “became a pioneer in the art world” (Gadt 182). She became a successful artist in a time period when it was rare for a woman to have a career outside of the home. Her paintings have sold for record prices, including her Summer Days, which was purchased by Calvin Klein for a reported one million dollars (Krull 71). The purpose of this paper is to first, discuss O’Keefe’s unique character and how it enabled her to succeed where so many before her had failed; second, to discuss the key elements that led to her success; third, to discuss the controversy surrounding the critics’ interpretations of O’Keefe’s work; and finally, to discuss how could she be used as a role model.
(Coming soon Georgia O'Keeffe: The Secrets of Her Success-- Part 2: Background)
A list of research sources will be provided in the final chapter of this series.
