Art, Image, Dress: Georgia O'Keeffe and Frida Kahlo, a curator talk with Lisa Small

Lisa Small, Senior Curator of European Art at the Brooklyn Museum presents an illustrated talk about Georgia O'Keeffe and Frida Kahlo and their self-crafted personas. She provides a behind-the-scenes look at how museum exhibitions that combine art, clothing, photography, and other elements enrich and expand our understanding of artists.
Georgia O'Keeffe and Frida Kahlo are two of the most celebrated modern artists of the 20th century. Kahlo's lyrical paintings--many of them deeply autobiographical--emerged from a crucible of illness, political commitment, and Mexican nationalism.
O'Keeffe's art reflects aspects of her life and a profound sense of place, distilled into the crisp lines and abstracted forms of modernism. Widely photographed and known in their lifetimes as much for how they looked and dressed as for their art, both artists have become popular culture icons. Two recent exhibitions, "Georgia O'Keeffe: Art, Image, Style" and "Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving," have explored this phenomenon, revealing how each artist's carefully considered mode of dress--O'Keeffe’s plain, black wrap dresses and Kahlo's colorful Mexican huipiles--was an integral part of their creative output and identity.
Lisa Small, who worked on both of these exhibitions, is Senior Curator of European Art at the Brooklyn Museum. She has organized numerous exhibitions, including the "Monet to Matisse" exhibition in Wichita in spring 2018 on its national tour. Additionally, Small curated "Rodin: The Body in Bronze," "Killer Heels: The Art of the High-Heeled Shoe," "The Rise of Sneaker Culture," and "The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier: From the Sidewalk to the Catwalk."
Originally recorded on Thursday, April 18, 2019 in the Howard E. Wooden Lecture Hall at the Wichita Art Museum in Wichita, Kansas.
Visit the Wichita Art Museum online at www.wichitaart....

[@elizah3828]

Well thought out and very interesting, thank you xX

[@lesafowers8142]

This was most instructive. I have always painted and am of fan of both these iconic women. I have been disabled for five years. I have a wheelchair in my life now and find that dressing up if I am able to leave my home is important. So people see me and not just the wheelchair. I have both the styles of both your subjects at the same time. I have a bamboo cane and bowler hat with pinstriped men's suit and have also a crown of red rose's and clothing that I have worn in honor of Frida. It all just came together organically as I pulled out items from my wardrobe. Black and white have also been my tones. I have shaved of all my hair and as it has grown back I know wear my hair like a man's hair cut. This just happened organically too. I just can't take care of myself in that way anymore. I do still love to do my makeup because I can do that sitting down but is not something I do unless it's vinyl night. I loved learning about the two women that I embody at the same time but was not aware of my doing this things together until I watched this incredible look into there lives. I loved listening and learning about both women. It's was fascinating to see there clothing and items in the collection. I have plans to work on some abstract art this week because I feel it could be my best work as a painter. I am my own inspiration and my own muse. I had started smoking cigarettes because I know longer want to live forever. I might even paint a pack of my favorite cigarettes that I now crave so often. It so hard to find inspiration while living in so much pain. I want to thank you for all of your work celebrating there work. I just loved listening to speak about them and you nailed it!!!🖤🖤🖤

[@violettownmicroenterprises1528]

lovely.
I really enjoyed the curator talk, though somewhat disappointing is the limited representation of both their work in the exhibition.

[@xyzllii]

Too much fashion...not enough ART !!