Georgia O’Keeffe in Context this Saturday

A caption at the New Mexico History Museum reads, “In the late 1800’s, painters and writers, weary of the materialism and industrialization of the urban world, found new inspiration in New Mexico’s landscape, light, and traditional cultures.”  Georgia O’Keeffe’s relocation to New Mexico in 1949 is a prominent example of the continuation of these motivations, which appear to continue still today.

As an Anglo and lover of modernist art and design, touring through Georgia O’Keeffe’s home in Abiquiú, with its artistic reflection of the stunning landscape of New Mexico, was a voyeuristic pleasure. Her life there appears as a piece of art in and of itself–minimal, disciplined, discerning, sensual, brave.

Mikayla Patton (Oglala Lakota), Visitation, 2021. An excerpt of her work at IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts.

But so too do the native artists and artwork currently on display, both in the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum itself and in the well-designed IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, reflect not only the beauty of New Mexico but also the historical lived culture. This very much includes attempted erasure, control, and cruelty towards the native peoples. The contemporary artwork we viewed of native artists represented was thoughtful–tracing connections with familial lands and community, but also making bold statements, often with humor.

My hope is that these viewpoints are ultimately ok to sit side by side, so that we can celebrate and honor all of the art and living that is in this uneasy, but beautiful place, and that it will continue to evolve together.

Poster for the Tewa exhibit in response to Georgia O’Keeffe at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.