Georgia O'Keeffe Artwork Value | Prices, Originals vs Prints, How to Sell

At-a-glance: Georgia O'Keeffe

The "Mother of American Modernism," O'Keeffe created an intimate body of work across seven decades — and her market reflects extreme scarcity combined with intense collector demand.

Bio

Name: Georgia O'Keeffe
Years Active: 1915–1984
Nationality: American

Style

American Modernism. Magnified flowers, New Mexico desert landscapes, sun-bleached bones, and early abstractions rendered in precise, luminous color fields.

What to look for

Catalogue raisonné inclusion (Barbara Buhler Lynes), Stieglitz-era provenance, period-appropriate materials. No original prints exist — all "prints" are reproductions.

What O'Keeffe works do people actually own?

Unlike Picasso or Warhol, O'Keeffe made no original prints — her entire output consists of unique paintings and works on paper. Understanding whether you have an original or reproduction is the essential first step, as most "O'Keeffe prints" are decorative posters with no investment value.

Reproduction posters — $50–$200
Photomechanical reproductions of famous works sold in museum shops and poster stores. O'Keeffe made no original prints, so any "print" is a reproduction. These have decorative value only.
Small authenticated paintings — $200,000–$3,000,000
Lesser-known subjects or smaller-scale works with catalogue raisonné documentation. Even minor O'Keeffe paintings command strong prices due to scarcity. Provenance and condition significantly affect value.
Works on paper — $500,000–$5,000,000+
Charcoal drawings, watercolors, and pastels from all periods. Early abstractions (1910s–1920s) are particularly valuable. These are authentic original works requiring the same scholarly vetting as paintings.
Skull and bone imagery — $2,000,000–$15,000,000
Sun-bleached animal skulls, pelvis bones, and antlers — often combined with desert flowers or dramatic skies. These distinctively Southwestern works have a dedicated collector base.
New Mexico landscapes — $3,000,000–$20,000,000
Pedernal mountain, Ghost Ranch vistas, adobe churches, and dramatic desert compositions. Scale, subject, and period all affect where a landscape falls within this range.
Major flower paintings — $10,000,000–$44,000,000+
O'Keeffe's magnified flowers — irises, jimson weeds, calla lilies, poppies — are her most iconic subject. Her auction record ($44.4 million for Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1 in 2014) was for a flower painting. These rarely appear at auction.

Most important O'Keeffe works are in museums or permanent private collections. When major works appear, they attract intense international competition. Upload your piece for a specific assessment.

How to verify O'Keeffe authenticity

Authentication for O'Keeffe relies on scholarly consensus rather than a formal authentication body. Before getting a valuation, gather these details:

Catalogue raisonné: Barbara Buhler Lynes's comprehensive two-volume catalogue (Yale, 1999) documents over 2,000 works — inclusion is essential for market acceptance
Georgia O'Keeffe Museum: The Museum does not formally authenticate artworks, but for works with documented provenance, they may provide research support and technical examination
Stieglitz provenance: Works with provenance to Alfred Stieglitz (her husband), An American Place gallery, or documented early exhibition history command premium prices
No original prints exist: O'Keeffe made no editioned prints — any "print" is a reproduction with decorative value only ($50–$200)
Signature comparison: Her signature evolved over time; compare to documented examples from the same period, but signatures alone prove nothing without scholarly support

Upload photos of the front, back, signature, and any provenance documentation for a preliminary assessment.

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Georgia O'Keeffe artwork FAQs

Start by checking Barbara Buhler Lynes's catalogue raisonné, which documents over 2,000 O'Keeffe works. The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe does not formally authenticate artworks, but for works with documented provenance, they may provide research support and technical examination. Major auction houses rely on catalogue raisonné inclusion and scholarly consensus. For general guidance on distinguishing originals from reproductions, see our original vs print artwork guide.

O'Keeffe made virtually no original prints during her lifetime — she did not work with printmaking workshops. Any "O'Keeffe print" is almost certainly a reproduction poster worth $50–$200. Authentic O'Keeffe works are paintings on canvas or board, or works on paper (charcoals, watercolors, pastels). Understanding this distinction is essential before getting a valuation.

Charcoal drawings, watercolors, and pastels are legitimate O'Keeffe media — not prints. Authentic works on paper are valuable ($500,000–$5,000,000+) when they appear in the catalogue raisonné with documented provenance. Early abstractions from the 1910s–1920s are particularly sought after. A free appraisal can help assess whether your piece warrants further research.

Large-scale flower paintings are her most valuable subject — her auction record of $44.4 million was for Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1 (1932). New Mexico landscapes featuring Pedernal mountain are also highly sought after at $3–20 million. Among American modernists, O'Keeffe's market rivals Hopper and exceeds most contemporaries.

Authenticated O'Keeffe paintings belong at major auction houses — Sotheby's, Christie's, or specialist American art sales. Works must be included in the catalogue raisonné or have strong scholarly support. For pieces valued over $1,000, we can help connect you with the right channel — see our selling guide for more details.

O'Keeffe's signature evolved over her long career — compare yours to documented examples from the same period in the catalogue raisonné. However, signatures were widely copied on reproductions and fakes. Without catalogue raisonné inclusion and provenance documentation, a signature alone proves nothing. Scholarly consensus and technical analysis matter more than signature appearance.

How to sell Georgia O'Keeffe artwork

Ready to sell your artwork? Here's the process for O'Keeffe pieces at any value level.

1

Get a valuation

Upload photos and we'll check your work against the catalogue raisonné, assess authenticity indicators, and provide a realistic market assessment within 24–48 hours.

2

Verify authenticity if needed

For works not already in the catalogue raisonné, scholarly vetting is essential. The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum may provide research support for works with documented provenance. Major auction houses also conduct their own due diligence.

3

Choose the right channel

Under $500K: Specialist American art dealers, regional auction houses.
$500K–$5M: Major auction house American art sales.
$5M+: Sotheby's, Christie's evening sales; private sale through major dealers.

4

Prepare documentation

Gather provenance records, catalogue raisonné reference, exhibition history, and any prior appraisals. Stieglitz-era provenance or documented early ownership significantly strengthens buyer confidence and accelerates sales.

Ready to get a free Georgia O'Keeffe valuation?

Upload photos of your artwork — front, back, signature, and any provenance documentation — and receive a research-backed estimate with guidance on authenticity, pricing, and selling options.