Ghost Ranch became a major subject of Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings. The dramatic retreat lies near Abiquiú in northern New Mexico, where cliffs, mesas, and changing light provided recurring motifs for her work.
O'Keeffe first visited the area in the 1930s and returned repeatedly. She painted its red and yellow landscapes in simplified forms, emphasizing the shapes and colors of the terrain rather than providing conventional topographical views. Works associated with the area include paintings of the cliffs and the nearby Cerro Pedernal.
Ghost Ranch is sometimes confused with O'Keeffe's separate Abiquiú home and studio. The ranch was a landscape that inspired her, while the Abiquiú property became her residence and workplace. Both places are important to understanding her New Mexico period, but they are not the same location.