Which New Mexico site became famous in Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings?

Ghost Ranch became famous in Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings of northern New Mexico.

O'Keeffe first visited New Mexico in 1917 and returned regularly before making the state her permanent home. Ghost Ranch, near Abiquiú, offered dramatic cliffs, mesas, arid colors, and unusually open spaces that became recurring subjects in her work. She painted the surrounding landscape from multiple viewpoints and in different seasons.

The site was historically associated with cattle ranching and later became a Presbyterian retreat and education center. Its distinctive formations, including the cliffs known as the Cerro Pedernal area, helped make the region recognizable to viewers who encountered O'Keeffe's paintings.

Ghost Ranch and Abiquiú are related but not identical locations. O'Keeffe maintained a home in Abiquiú, while Ghost Ranch is a separate site farther north. Another frequent confusion is Taos, an important New Mexico art center, but Ghost Ranch is the specific landscape most closely linked with her painted cliffs and mesas.