Profile of the Day: Georgia O’Keeffe

On November 15, 1887, American artist Georgia O’Keeffe was born.

Image: Georgia O’Keeffe / Library of Congress

O’Keeffe was born in a farmhouse in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin to Francis Calyxtus O’Keeffe and Ida Totto, who were both dairy farmers. The second of seven children, O’Keeffe knew she wanted to become an artist from a young age. She studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and then the Art Students League of New York. She worked briefly as a commercial artist and later, as an art teacher. By 1918, she began to gain attention for her work and left teaching to pursue a career as an artist full time.

Considered one of the foremost painters of the 20th century, O’Keeffe carved out a significant place for women painters in the art community that had been exclusive and still dominated by men. Before her death in 1986, O’Keeffe had become on of America’s most celebrated cultural icons.

Explore Georgia O’Keeffe’s family tree on Geni and share how you’re connected to the artist.

View Georgia O’Keeffe’s Geni Profile