Georgia O'Keeffe's first publicly exhibited abstract drawing series was titled Specials. The charcoal drawings were shown at Alfred Stieglitz's New York gallery in 1916.
The series emerged after O'Keeffe deliberately moved away from directly copying visible objects. She used flowing lines, organic shapes, and tonal contrasts to express ideas and sensations that could not be represented through conventional realism. The drawings were among the earliest examples of fully abstract art made by an American artist.
Stieglitz exhibited the drawings before O'Keeffe had agreed to become a public figure in the New York art world. Their appearance attracted attention and helped begin her professional relationship with him. The works are sometimes loosely described as abstractions or charcoal drawings, but Special is the specific title associated with the first group shown at 291.