Eloquent Objects: Georgia O’Keeffe and Still-Life Art in New Mexico

The dramatic landscapes and rich cultures of the American Southwest fueled the imaginations of many early 20th-century artists, including Georgia O’Keeffe. Their evocative still-life paintings illuminate art’s capacity to reveal the essence of a place and time. Eloquent Objects features 22 works by O’Keeffe and 42 by her contemporaries, sharing their impressions of the richness and diversity of New Mexico. It is the first major exhibition to focus on the role of still life as a means of exploring the region.

For painter Georgia O’Keeffe, whose iconic still lifes of sun-bleached bones and desert flowers are acknowledged masterworks of American art, the dramatic landscapes and mix of cultures in New Mexico proved an endless source of inspiration. She was captivated by every aspect of the region: strong light and bold colors, basic elements such as rocks and trees, stripped-down forms of art and architecture including organic adobe structures, and simple yet powerful handmade religious objects. In 1949, she settled there permanently and made the region her primary subject.
O’Keeffe and a vibrant community of artists who traveled west established a dynamic regional art scene that still flourishes today. In addition to O’Keeffe, the exhibition highlights iconic modernists Marsden Hartley and Stuart Davis, as well as Gustave Baumann, Catherine Critcher, and Eliseo Rodriguez, among others.

When is the last time you had a chance to view so many O’Keeffe works right here in the Northwest?  Bring your family and friends. You won’t want to miss it!

Organized by Joseph S. Czestochowski.
Produced by International Arts ®.
Curated by Charles C. Eldredge.

Eloquent Objects: Georgia O’Keeffe and Still-Life Art in New Mexico  is presented by Propel Insurance. Generous support provided by Nordstrom, ArtsFund, and Tacoma Arts Commission.

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