Georgia O'Keeffe made her home and painted extensively in New Mexico from 1929 onward.
She first visited New Mexico in 1929 and was captivated by its landscape, architecture, bones, skies, and distinctive light. She returned repeatedly during the 1930s and spent increasing amounts of time there after her New York years.
In 1949, three years after Alfred Stieglitz's death, O'Keeffe moved permanently to New Mexico. She lived at Abiquiú and also maintained a studio at Ghost Ranch, north of the town. The region supplied subjects for many paintings, including adobe buildings, desert formations, flowers, and animal bones.
New Mexico was not simply a backdrop in her work. O'Keeffe repeatedly returned to particular places and objects, using close observation and simplification to make them feel monumental. Her association with the state became central to her public image.