Ghost Ranch became Georgia O'Keeffe's New Mexico home and a recurring subject in her paintings.
O'Keeffe first visited New Mexico in 1929 and returned frequently during the following decades. She was especially drawn to the dramatic cliffs, arid colors, bones, and changing shadows around Ghost Ranch, north of Abiquiu.
She rented a house at Ghost Ranch for many years and later acquired a house in nearby Abiquiu. Paintings such as those depicting the red hills and cliffs of the area helped establish her visual identity as an artist of the American Southwest.
Ghost Ranch is not the same place as the Georgia O'Keeffe Home and Studio in Abiquiu. The two locations are close enough to be associated with her New Mexico life, but they are distinct properties.