Georgia O'Keeffe's Modern Art and Lifestyle Inspires

Georgia O’Keeffe is best known for her artful and very detailed paintings of flowers, and the mountain landscapes of New Mexico. She was a pioneer in the exploration of abstraction and excelled in realism, bringing New York buildings, New Mexico landscapes, bones and flowers for the whole world to see in their detailed beauty.

The Lifetime original movie Georgia O’Keeffe premiers on Saturday, Sept 19 at 9 PM ET/PT. Joan Allen plays Georgia O'Keeffe and her husband, Alfred Stieglitz, is played by Jeremy Irons. It is one of those movies that you should not miss.

 

 

O'Keeffe's art is unquestionably female, and the essence of real woman can be seen in her work. There is something very sensual even in her flower paintings, and she made people to see common things in a totally new light. To be honest, I have never been a huge fan of Georgia O’Keeffe’s art, but after seeing the Lifetime Network’s original movie of her, I am truly inspired by her. Georgia O’Keeffe was ahead of her time with her modern lifestyle, which to this date is still not approved by many, but which still inspires modern women to be in charge of their own lives and do what they love and live life with passion. O'Keeffe's art keeps inspiring artists and designers worldwide. I think it took me seeing the movie to learn more about her and to understand her art better, too. Now I am truly inspired by her.

Georgia O’Keeffe’s modern art is colorful and detailed, giving even the smallest details the possibility to shine. And that’s how she also saw interior design – simplistic design that gives a few pieces the possibility to shine in the space without cluttering it with too many items. I wish the movie had shown her New Mexico home in more detail!

Some of the interior design tips I learned from Georgia O’Keeffe:

-   Enjoy things like a skylight so you can watch the stars. If you don't have a skylight - why not skip curtains and just use blinds that you can pull back to see the view from your window?

-   Less is more. Let those objects that you have shine.

-   Don’t bring a new item into your home unless you get rid of an item first. Or at least - don't display everything you own at once, and change the look of your home every now and then.

-   Use bold colors bravely. Especially with paint – you can always paint on the top of it! Another great way to incorporate color: Put art on the walls.

-   Don’t be afraid to make your space about what you love and are inspired by.

-   Make a space for yourself only, even if it is just a corner in a living room, attic or garage – something that is just for you. If you are truly inspired by Georgia O'Keeffe, lock yourself inside your space every now and then and focus on doing something you love. It can be a bubble bath, crafting, surfing the internet, doing yoga or even just watching a movie by yourself. Make your home a place where you can truly be yourself and enjoy things you love.

O'Keeffe Inspired Room

O'Keeffe loved modern design, and from everything I have read of her New Mexico home and the pictures I have seen of it, it was decorated with modern design. The movie showed more interiors of her New York home, that was decorated in a much earlier time era with her husband. I put together a few items, that I would pick for an O'Keeffe inspired room.

 

 

1. Bring in the color with one of O'Keeffe's paintings - or, I should say, a framed print of her painting.

2. Poul Henningsen's Artichoke Lamp was designed 1958 and, like O'Keeffe's art, still has a strong standing.

3. O'Keeffe had modern chairs in her home. Arne Jacobsen's biomorphic Egg chair was also designed in 1958, which was around the same time O'Keeffe started her world travels and got more influences from around the world, especially Europe.

4. Eero Saarinen's  Saarinen table was on the cover of Time magazine in 1956 and is another modern design classic O'Keeffe liked.

5. Finnish designer Alvar Aalto designed the Aalto Flower vase set with his wife Aino for the New York World's Fair of 1939. I don't know if O'Keeffe liked Aalto's work, but I think it combines her love of flowers and modern design and portrays the modern design she liked well.

Watch the Lifetime original movie Georgia O’Keeffe on Saturday, Sept 19 at 9 PM ET/PT or other show times this weekend. Read more how Georgia O'Keeffe inspired me.