Georgia O'Keeffe: Visions of Hawai'i

In 1939, when Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986) was among the most famous artists in the United States and best known for her beautiful paintings of the desert southwest, she accepted a commission from the Hawaiian Pineapple Company to produce two paintings for advertising campaigns. During her nine weeks in Hawai'i, inspired by the lush and alien tropical beauty of the islands, O’Keeffe produced more than 20 masterpieces. An exhibition in 2018 at the New York Botanical Garden titled Georgia O'Keeffe: Visions of Hawai'i included several of these paintings, along with an exhibit of Hawaiian flora. The exhibition, and this beautiful companion book, embrace the beauty of nature and its myriad forms.

Georgia O’Keeffe’s paintings glow with color, specificity of place, love of natural detail, surreal imagery, and an intimacy with their subject. This book includes beautiful copies of the Hawai’ian paintings, including the two Dole pineapple plants. There is also illustrated biographical information, expert commentary on the paintings, and fascinating background on the natural and human history of Hawai’i. Inherent in all the commentary and the art is a plea for the urgency of conserving our natural environment.

The editors/curators of this collection are Theresa Papanikolas, Deputy Director of Art and Programs and Curator of European and American Art at the Honolulu Museum of Art, and Joanna L. Groarke, Director of Public Engagement and Library Exhibitions Curator at The New York Botanical Garden. Other contributors are noted botanists, historians, curators, and ecologists. Their book is a treasure for enthusiasts of both art and nature.