Frank Lloyd Wright and Georgia O’Keefe
Georgia with her favorite Mountain, 1960
Tony Vaccaro and Monroe Gallery of Photography
Written by: Max Wiener
Photo Edited by: Billy Delfs
American Icons: Frank Lloyd Wright and Georgia O’Keefe
Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
12621 N. Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85259-2537
October 20th, 2023- June 3rd, 2024
The God-like oeuvres of Frank Lloyd Wright and Georgia O’Keefe feel familiar in this stunning new series.
As an artist’s work becomes more revered, the artist becomes elevated to an almost mythic status, an untouchable in an echelon known by few This is most certainly the case for Frank Lloyd Wright and Georgia O’Keefe. Their work - architecture and art, respectively - is some of the most recognizable not just in the American landscape, but the world’s. Their vision helped to shape the cultural movements of the twentieth century and inspire countless aspiring artists to hone their craft and pursue their dreams. In American Icons: Wright and O’Keefe, presented masterfully at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation in Scottdale, the tables are turned, allowing the artist to become the art. The series features twenty intimate portraits of the two icons, pulling back the curtain and sparking the humanity in each of them. Here, they are not icons of the art and cultural world but human beings. The series opened on October 20th and is scheduled to close on June 3rd.
Frank Lloyd Wright Standing at the Entrance of the Chapel, 1957
Tony Vaccaro and Monroe Gallery of Photography
Each of the presented images makes both Wright and O’Keefe feel familiar, like someone we know but are truly meeting for the first time. We are aware of their work, but their eyes peer into ours with the kind guise of a wise elder. The beauty of each of these images is that they feel both exclusive and inviting at the same time, presenting a truly magnificent paradigm. It is such a special privilege to be looking at these photographs and spending time with the two of them; they feel alive in the space. We take the place of the camera lens, and the mastery of the image allows us to feel closer to them than ever before.
Georgia with her favorite Mountain, 1960
Tony Vaccaro and Monroe Gallery of Photography
The names Frank Lloyd Wright and Georgia O’Keefe bring about such a gumption that is hard to put into words. However, all is cast aside in place of a beautifully apt mundaneness. No one image is fancier than another, and no lighting fixtures reveal the guise of a glamorous photoshoot. Instead, two artists - Gods to some - are shown in their most natural state, and we grow to appreciate their work even further.. It wasn’t an alien species who crafted the Guggenheim museum or painted some of the most beautiful hibiscus flowers the world has ever seen. It was a human from America, a neighbor to the common man and a mortal. In the photographs, their talents take a backseat to their approachability, inviting you to ask questions and make a friend. Such images are inspiring not just for aspiring artists but for all of us. We all have it within us to impact this Earth during our time here. These images make us look within ourselves and create something special for the world.
