The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum has launched Access O’Keeffe, a comprehensive digital catalogue raisonné that makes over 2,000 of the artist’s works available to the public for free. Based on the definitive 1999 scholarship by Barbara Buhler Lynes, the platform includes paintings, sketches, and letters, featuring advanced search tools that allow users to filter by color, medium, and theme. The project was completed despite a significant funding scare when a federal grant was briefly rescinded during the Trump administration before being restored via legal action.
This digital initiative represents a major shift in art historical accessibility, transitioning specialized scholarly data into a searchable, open-access format for educators, researchers, and the general public. By updating provenance and exhibition histories that have changed since the original print publication, the museum ensures the continued accuracy of O’Keeffe’s legacy. The platform joins a growing global movement of digital archives, such as Van Gogh Worldwide, that democratize high-level art research and facilitate new discoveries through data-driven exploration.