Georgia O'Keeffe acquired her Ghost Ranch home in 1940.
Ghost Ranch is a dramatic area in northern New Mexico near Abiquiu, known for multicolored cliffs, mesas, and expansive desert views. O'Keeffe first encountered the region in the 1930s and repeatedly used its forms and colors as subjects for paintings. She rented a house there before purchasing it in 1940.
The landscape around Ghost Ranch became one of the most recognizable settings associated with O'Keeffe. She painted cliffs, hills, roads, and nearby natural forms in simplified compositions that emphasized shape, rhythm, and color rather than topographical description alone.
Ghost Ranch is not the same property as O'Keeffe’s Abiquiu house. She maintained both places, using the remote Ghost Ranch setting for inspiration and the Abiquiu property as another important home and studio. The Ghost Ranch area is now also known for its retreat center and geological scenery.