Georgia O'Keeffe Museum facts for kids
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| Established | July 17, 1997 |
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| Location | Santa Fe, New Mexico, U.S.; Abiquiu, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Type | Art Museum and Historic Property |
| Accreditation | American Alliance of Museums |
| Founder | Anne Windfohr Marion & John L. Marion |
The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum is a special place that celebrates the amazing art and life of Georgia O'Keeffe. It also explores American modernism, which is a style of art from the early 1900s. The museum opened its doors on July 17, 1997. This was eleven years after Georgia O'Keeffe passed away.
The museum is not just one building. It has several locations in two towns in New Mexico: Santa Fe and Abiquiu. These include the main Museum Galleries in Santa Fe, a Library and Archive for research, and an Education Annex for kids' programs. It also includes Georgia O'Keeffe's historic home and studio in Abiquiu. There's also a Welcome Center and gift shops in both towns. Another home of O'Keeffe's at the Ghost Ranch is part of the museum's property, but it is not open to visitors.
Contents
About the Museum's History
The museum is a private, non-profit organization. It was started in November 1995 by two generous people, Anne Windfohr Marion and John L. Marion. They lived in Santa Fe part-time. The main museum building was designed by architect Richard Gluckman. He also worked on projects for other famous museums, like the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City. He also designed parts of the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.
Museum Directors Over Time
The museum has had several leaders since it opened. Peter H. Hassrick and Jay Cantor were the first directors. George King led the museum from 1998 to 2009. Robert Kret was the director from 2009 until early 2019. Today, Cody Hartley is the director of the O'Keeffe Museum. He joined the museum in 2013 and has held many important roles there.
Cody Hartley wants the museum to be a beloved place for everyone in the community. He hopes it offers programs and activities that are good for both children and adults.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum has the largest collection of Georgia O'Keeffe's artworks and personal items. These include things from her historic homes. The artworks on display in the Museum Galleries change throughout the year. You can also see some items in the Library and Archives and the Welcome Center.
Georgia O'Keeffe's home and studio in Abiquiu was where she lived for many years. It even has her garden, which local students help to grow and harvest every year. The museum's art collection features many of O'Keeffe's most important works. These include her unique abstract paintings, large flower paintings, and pictures of skulls and landscapes. She also painted buildings, rocks, shells, and trees. The collection started with 140 of her works. Now, it has almost 1,200 objects!
Past Exhibitions and Art Shows
The museum has hosted many special art shows over the years. These shows often explored different parts of Georgia O'Keeffe's art or her connections to other artists. Here are some examples:
- 2008: Georgia O'Keeffe and the Women of the Stieglitz Circle
- 2008: Georgia O'Keeffe and Ansel Adams: Natural Affinities
- 2009: Modernists in New Mexico: Works from a Private Collector
- 2010: Georgia O'Keeffe: Abstraction
- 2013: Annie Leibovitz: Pilgrimage
- 2014: Georgia O’Keeffe and Ansel Adams: The Hawai'i Pictures
- 2016: O'Keeffe at the University of Virginia, 1912–1914
To share more of its collection, the museum now often rotates artworks in its main galleries. This means there's always something new to see!
The Library and Archive
The Michael S. Engl Family Foundation Library and Archive is a place for research. It helps the museum with its exhibitions and collections. It focuses on studies about Georgia O'Keeffe, other artists from her time, and the history of modern art in the region.
The Library and Archive has many materials for both the public and museum staff to use for research. You can visit the Library and Archive by making an appointment ahead of time. Many items from the collection and archive are also available online through the museum's Collections Online website.
Georgia O'Keeffe's Historic Homes
Georgia O'Keeffe had two important homes in New Mexico.
Abiquiu Home and Studio
Georgia O'Keeffe's Abiquiu Home and Studio is located in Abiquiu. This town is about 53 miles north of Santa Fe. You can take public tours of this home from March through November. It's a great way to see where the artist lived and worked.
Ghost Ranch Property
The museum also owns and takes care of Georgia O'Keeffe's other house. This house is at the Ghost Ranch property, which is about 20 minutes north of Abiquiu. This home is not currently open to the public. The Ghost Ranch itself is an educational retreat run by the Presbyterian Church. It offers special tours that explore the landscapes that inspired many of Georgia O'Keeffe's famous paintings.
See also
In Spanish: Museo Georgia O'Keeffe para niños
- List of single-artist museums
