Kayla Rausch is a Curatorial Fellow, Exhibitions & Programming, at the New York Botanical Garden.

---

Helen Fowler O’Gorman was an American sculptor and botanical illustrator whose most well-known work focused on the native flora of Mexico. She became passionate about painting through her studies with Mexican muralist Diego Rivera beginning in the 1940s. Helen immersed herself in the history and natural environment of her adopted country, working alongside her husband, Mexican-Irish artist-architect Juan O’Gorman to design and build Casa Cueva (The Cave House, demolished in 1969), an important example of modernist organic architecture and garden design.

Helen published Mexican Flowering Trees and Plants in 1961, which demonstrates her masterful artistic talent and immense affection for Mexico. Helen dedicated her life’s work to keeping the horticultural and botanical heritage of Mexico alive through her vibrant illustrations and lively written accounts, and was a member of the Botanical Society of Mexico, the Mexican Soceity of Cactology, and the Mexican Association of Orchidology.

Here are image excerpts from her book Mexican Flowering Trees and Plants that highlight some of the plants featured in The Orchid Show: Mexican Modernism, NYBG’s exhibition on display through April 27.

Sources:

O’Gorman, Helen. Mexican Flowering Trees and Plants. 1st ed., Dover Publications, 1961. 

O’Gorman, Helen. Plantas y Flores de México. Translated by Judith Márquez. Dirección General de Publicaciones, primera edición en español, 1963.

“Women Gardeners and Botanical Artists: Part Three,” Brian R. Thompson, thompson_women- botanist-3.pdf. (pp 27 to 28).