Abiquiú became Georgia O'Keeffe's home after she bought a house there in 1945.
O'Keeffe had been visiting northern New Mexico since the 1930s and was drawn to the area's distinctive cliffs, roads, and adobe buildings. Her Abiquiú home, especially its walled patio and famous door, became a recurring subject in her paintings. The house gave her a private base close to the landscapes she had already been exploring.
She continued to divide her time between Abiquiú and Ghost Ranch, where she had maintained another residence. The two places are close but not identical: Ghost Ranch supplied dramatic open scenery, while Abiquiú offered a settled village environment and architectural details. O'Keeffe lived and worked in New Mexico for the rest of her life, although she spent her final years in Santa Fe.