Alon Bement introduced Georgia O'Keeffe to the theories of Arthur Wesley Dow.
O'Keeffe encountered Alon Bement while working in Virginia, and Bement introduced her to the ideas of Arthur Wesley Dow. Dow argued that art could be organized around design principles such as line, tone, and color rather than merely copying the appearance of objects.
This approach became a turning point for O'Keeffe. She began making abstract charcoal drawings that expressed ideas and sensations through simplified forms. In 1916, her friend Anita Pollitzer showed some of these drawings to Alfred Stieglitz, who exhibited them at his New York gallery.
William Merritt Chase was also a significant teacher in O'Keeffe’s education, especially during her time at the Art Students League. However, Chase did not introduce her to Dow’s theories. That specific introduction came through Bement, making him the answer to this question.