A tribute to the \’Mother of American modernism’

March 6, On This Day

A record-holding artist

After a long and prolific art career and recognition as the ‘Mother of American modernism’, American artist Georgia O’Keeffe passed away on March 6, 1986, just short of a 100 years old. Known for motifs of enlarged flowers, New York skyscrapers, and New Mexico landscapes, O’Keeffe holds the record ($44.4 million in 2014) for the highest price paid for a painting by a woman. O’Keeffe created many forms of abstract art, including close-ups of flowers, such as the Red Canna paintings, that many found to represent female genitalia. However, she consistently denied that intention. Her indomitable spirit and fierce independence also made her quite a feminist icon.