Georgia O'Keeffe was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1962.
The election recognized O'Keeffe’s established importance in American art. By then, her career had extended across abstract drawing, flower painting, urban imagery, desert landscapes, animal bones, and architectural subjects.
The American Academy of Arts and Letters is an honorary organization founded to advance and celebrate American literature, music, and art. Election to its membership is a significant distinction rather than an exhibition award or a university appointment.
The year 1962 came during O'Keeffe’s later career, when she continued working in New Mexico and receiving major institutional recognition. It should not be confused with 1977, when President Gerald Ford presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, another important honor she received.