Georgia O'Keeffe called the dark volcanic landscape in New Mexico the Black Place.
The Black Place was a remote area near Ghost Ranch, west of Abiquiú. O'Keeffe repeatedly visited and painted it, responding to its black hills, eroded forms, and stark contrast with the surrounding desert. She described the location as one of her favorite subjects and returned to it over many years.
Paintings related to the site include Black Place series works from the 1940s and 1950s. O'Keeffe simplified the landscape into bands, curves, and dramatic tonal shapes, so the paintings are based on a real location but are not conventional topographical views.
The name can be confused with Black Mesa, another Southwestern geographic term. In O'Keeffe's artistic vocabulary, Black Place refers specifically to the dark landscape near Ghost Ranch that she painted extensively.