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Georgia O'Keeffe and Her Houses: Ghost Ranch and Abiquiu
Georgia O’Keeffe’s two houses in New Mexico—at Abiquiu and Ghost Ranch—are essential elements in her paintings, but their history has never before been detailed. Quoting liberally from the artist’s letters, Barbara Buhler Lynes and Agapita Judy Lopez create a vibrant picture of O’Keeffe (1887–1986) and her homes, which have long intrigued the public. An essay by architect Beverly Spears describes the distinctive characteristics of adobe construction.
The bountiful illustrations include photographs made especially for this book showing the houses as they are today, photographs of O’Keeffe at home by major photographers, and her paintings of the houses and the landscapes surrounding them.
Praise for Georgia O'Keeffe and her Houses:
“Beautifully designed and fascinating.” —Publishers Weekly
The bountiful illustrations include photographs made especially for this book showing the houses as they are today, photographs of O’Keeffe at home by major photographers, and her paintings of the houses and the landscapes surrounding them.
Praise for Georgia O'Keeffe and her Houses:
“Beautifully designed and fascinating.” —Publishers Weekly
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 22, 2024
10/10!!! Incredible experience, literally could not have been any more perfect!
I wouldn’t have to eat food if I could read this book 24/7. It fed me in absolutely all the ways possible.
I’m gonna read it again probably - as of tomorrow
& I’m gonna say a few more things about it soon..
but just know - one of my best purchases of the year.
Of - ever!
I !
LOVE !
THIS !
WOMAN !!!!
(And her houses! 🥰)
I wouldn’t have to eat food if I could read this book 24/7. It fed me in absolutely all the ways possible.
I’m gonna read it again probably - as of tomorrow
& I’m gonna say a few more things about it soon..
but just know - one of my best purchases of the year.
Of - ever!
I !
LOVE !
THIS !
WOMAN !!!!
(And her houses! 🥰)
May 31, 2017
An absolutely stunning book--a must-read if you're planning to visit O'Keeffe's home in Abiquiu. If you've already been there, you'll relive the visit through these photographs and text. I especially appreciate the detailed treatment of each room, so that the reader has a sense of actually being inside the space.
The many photographs of O'Keeffe in the rooms also convey a sense of her use of--and her pleasure in--the Abiquiu house. However, since these are almost all posed photographs, intended primarily to convey O'Keeffe's iconographic persona, the house (and O'Keeffe) seem wholly artifactual. One interesting exception: a casual snapshot of O'Keeffe in the kitchen with her sister Catherine, making a salad. There, she looks real. In most other photographs, she looks--like the house--like a piece of art.
Maria Chabot--at the time, a close (some say intimate) friend--worked informally as the architect and contractor on the Abiquiu house. Her role is adequately treated in this book, given the constraints of space. If you're a serious student of either house, however, you'll want to supplement this book with a careful reading of the Chabot/O'Keeffe correspondence, Maria Chabot-Georgia O'Keeffe: Correspondence, 1941-1949. The two books, read together, will give you a sense of how the Abiquiu house was constructed, in a difficult war-time economy and a remote and challenging place. They will also illuminate the difficult nature of the friendship that made the house possible--and made it impossible, perhaps inevitably, for O'Keeffe and Chabot to remain close.
I don't know of any two books that, taken together, tell us more about an important architectural achievement and the fascinating women who created it.
The many photographs of O'Keeffe in the rooms also convey a sense of her use of--and her pleasure in--the Abiquiu house. However, since these are almost all posed photographs, intended primarily to convey O'Keeffe's iconographic persona, the house (and O'Keeffe) seem wholly artifactual. One interesting exception: a casual snapshot of O'Keeffe in the kitchen with her sister Catherine, making a salad. There, she looks real. In most other photographs, she looks--like the house--like a piece of art.
Maria Chabot--at the time, a close (some say intimate) friend--worked informally as the architect and contractor on the Abiquiu house. Her role is adequately treated in this book, given the constraints of space. If you're a serious student of either house, however, you'll want to supplement this book with a careful reading of the Chabot/O'Keeffe correspondence, Maria Chabot-Georgia O'Keeffe: Correspondence, 1941-1949. The two books, read together, will give you a sense of how the Abiquiu house was constructed, in a difficult war-time economy and a remote and challenging place. They will also illuminate the difficult nature of the friendship that made the house possible--and made it impossible, perhaps inevitably, for O'Keeffe and Chabot to remain close.
I don't know of any two books that, taken together, tell us more about an important architectural achievement and the fascinating women who created it.
February 9, 2019
A beautiful book detailing the lives of both houses as living and changing structures, but also as homes to Georgia O’Keeffe. Photographs are plentiful, from the early days to the contemporary, and include images by Ansel Adams, Cecil Beaton, and others. Quotes by O’Keeffe, sourced often from correspondence, as well as reproductions of relevant paintings are included throughout. An opening essay introduces O’Keeffe’s path to New Mexico, and is followed by four pages explaining adobe construction and architectural details.
In 2016, I toured the Abiquiu house, and hiked nearby Plaza Blanca (the White Place), and found this book a lovely recollection of the visit. While the Ghost Ranch house is not open to the public, the Ghost Ranch retreat and education center is accessible. Since I was in the area, I stopped to inquire about hikes on the property, and very much enjoyed the hike to Chimney Rock… until a thunderstorm hastened our descent!
- - -
page 8:
"She had first seen and fallen in love with northern New Mexico in 1917, when she spent several days in Santa Fe. As she later wrote: From now on, I was always trying to get back there… and in 1929 I finally made it.”
page 223:
“I am living in the house that was being built when I saw you last — and inch by inch it is becoming — my house — something that feels like my shell to live in…”
But it wasn’t until 1949 that the Abiquiu house renovation was completed and O’Keeffe fully embraced New Mexico. (Husband Alfred Stieglitz, who resided in New York, passed away in 1946.)
page 248:
“After living on the crowded, luxuriant East Coast for many years, the Ghost Ranch house provided the isolation she craved and an intimate relationship with some of the most dramatic landscape configurations in the Southwest. In contrast, the Abiquiu house made it possible for her to live part of the year, especially the winters, more comfortably and in a less severe environment, which among other things permitted her to grow her own food. If nothing else, the interiors of these two houses, which are characterized by the uncluttered spaces and simple furnishings O’Keeffe demanded, demonstrate how her life in New Mexico was itself a component of the minimalist aesthetic that is one of the distinguishing features of her art."
- - -
+ Generally speaking, the Abiquiu house was the fall / winter residence, and the Ghost Ranch house was for spring / summer.
+ Few buildings now built in the “adobe style” are actually made of adobe due to high labor costs / continual maintenance.
+ Jimson weed (datura plant) as painting subject. Cloud paintings inspired by airplane travel above the clouds. The Door.
+ O’Keeffe’s first trip to Asia was in 1959. Affinity for Japanese gardens, tea, and Kakuzo Okakura's The Book of Tea. She loved gardening and collecting natural items (rock, bone).
+ O’Keeffe gave eight Chow dogs (over time) only four names. (Repeated two pairs of names!)
+ The effort that Maria Chabot put into the Abiquiu house renovation was tremendous.
In 2016, I toured the Abiquiu house, and hiked nearby Plaza Blanca (the White Place), and found this book a lovely recollection of the visit. While the Ghost Ranch house is not open to the public, the Ghost Ranch retreat and education center is accessible. Since I was in the area, I stopped to inquire about hikes on the property, and very much enjoyed the hike to Chimney Rock… until a thunderstorm hastened our descent!
- - -
page 8:
"She had first seen and fallen in love with northern New Mexico in 1917, when she spent several days in Santa Fe. As she later wrote: From now on, I was always trying to get back there… and in 1929 I finally made it.”
page 223:
“I am living in the house that was being built when I saw you last — and inch by inch it is becoming — my house — something that feels like my shell to live in…”
But it wasn’t until 1949 that the Abiquiu house renovation was completed and O’Keeffe fully embraced New Mexico. (Husband Alfred Stieglitz, who resided in New York, passed away in 1946.)
page 248:
“After living on the crowded, luxuriant East Coast for many years, the Ghost Ranch house provided the isolation she craved and an intimate relationship with some of the most dramatic landscape configurations in the Southwest. In contrast, the Abiquiu house made it possible for her to live part of the year, especially the winters, more comfortably and in a less severe environment, which among other things permitted her to grow her own food. If nothing else, the interiors of these two houses, which are characterized by the uncluttered spaces and simple furnishings O’Keeffe demanded, demonstrate how her life in New Mexico was itself a component of the minimalist aesthetic that is one of the distinguishing features of her art."
- - -
+ Generally speaking, the Abiquiu house was the fall / winter residence, and the Ghost Ranch house was for spring / summer.
+ Few buildings now built in the “adobe style” are actually made of adobe due to high labor costs / continual maintenance.
+ Jimson weed (datura plant) as painting subject. Cloud paintings inspired by airplane travel above the clouds. The Door.
+ O’Keeffe’s first trip to Asia was in 1959. Affinity for Japanese gardens, tea, and Kakuzo Okakura's The Book of Tea. She loved gardening and collecting natural items (rock, bone).
+ O’Keeffe gave eight Chow dogs (over time) only four names. (Repeated two pairs of names!)
+ The effort that Maria Chabot put into the Abiquiu house renovation was tremendous.
August 17, 2025
A BEAUTIFUL and in-depth meditation on just how pivotal landscape and place can be in an artist’s work!
I loved learning more about O’Keefe through this book - a really strategic mixture of photography, O’Keefe’s paintings, and landscapes. (I didn’t know much about her before this… and still want to know more! But found this to be a good start.)
The most noticeable difference that made this book set apart rather than a book JUST about landscape or JUST about her homes, rather than both, together, was that of O’K’s influence on all of the above; she purposely created her spaces for looking and inspiration. This was a constant, a necessity throughout her work, and she was always able to process what she found beautiful and inspirational, and this was all around her. She adapted her surroundings based on this inspiration.
One of my favorite quotes:
“I feel at home here - I feel quiet - my skin feels close to the earth when I walk out into the red hills as I did last night - my cat following along like a dog.”
I loved learning more about O’Keefe through this book - a really strategic mixture of photography, O’Keefe’s paintings, and landscapes. (I didn’t know much about her before this… and still want to know more! But found this to be a good start.)
The most noticeable difference that made this book set apart rather than a book JUST about landscape or JUST about her homes, rather than both, together, was that of O’K’s influence on all of the above; she purposely created her spaces for looking and inspiration. This was a constant, a necessity throughout her work, and she was always able to process what she found beautiful and inspirational, and this was all around her. She adapted her surroundings based on this inspiration.
One of my favorite quotes:
“I feel at home here - I feel quiet - my skin feels close to the earth when I walk out into the red hills as I did last night - my cat following along like a dog.”
August 10, 2024
I was so excited about the concept of this book and the execution did not disappoint. You will come away with a broader context in which to appreciate Georgia’s work.
To read about O’Keeffe and her environment was such a treat!! 100% Fangirl recommended.
To read about O’Keeffe and her environment was such a treat!! 100% Fangirl recommended.
June 9, 2022
O’Keeffe owned two houses, not that far from each other, in New Mexico. Each had a different view. These views, as one can see through the glorious picture windows, are stunning. You can imagine her looking out of them and finding inspiration.
The houses, like O’Keeffe and her works, show artful simplicity. There are wonderful pictures of O’Keeffe at home, as well as the landscapes and the paintings they inspired.
There was extensive info on renovations and such that were of less interest to me, but the book is worth looking at for the rarely seen photographs alone.
The houses, like O’Keeffe and her works, show artful simplicity. There are wonderful pictures of O’Keeffe at home, as well as the landscapes and the paintings they inspired.
There was extensive info on renovations and such that were of less interest to me, but the book is worth looking at for the rarely seen photographs alone.
January 25, 2013
She lived in beauty.
This is a bonny book. I relished everything about it.
I especially appreciated that you see the evolution of Georgia O'Keeffe's home through the years. The photographs are stunning and even the footnotes are fascinating. Organic gardening, adobe construction, this book literally shows that her homes were essential elements in her paintings. LOVED.
This is a bonny book. I relished everything about it.
I especially appreciated that you see the evolution of Georgia O'Keeffe's home through the years. The photographs are stunning and even the footnotes are fascinating. Organic gardening, adobe construction, this book literally shows that her homes were essential elements in her paintings. LOVED.
June 29, 2017
Amazing and beautiful book, really captures how the artist lived. Lately I've been so mesmerized by Georgia O'Keeffe (as I always have been since I discovered her in the 1980s) and this book furthers that admiration.
"Together, the houses fulfilled two different aspects of O'Keeffe's independent nature. After living on the crowded, luxuriant East Coast for many years, the Ghost Ranch house provided the isolation she craved and an intimate relationship with some of the most dramatic landscape configurations in the Southwest. In contrast, the Abiquiu house made if possible for her to live part of the year, especially the winters, more comfortably in a less severe environment, which among other things permitted her to grow her own food. If nothing else, the interiors of these two houses, which are characterized by the uncluttered spaces and simple furnishings O'Keeffe demanded, demonstrate how her life in New Mexico was itself a component of the minimalist esthetic that is one of the distinguishing features of her art."
"Together, the houses fulfilled two different aspects of O'Keeffe's independent nature. After living on the crowded, luxuriant East Coast for many years, the Ghost Ranch house provided the isolation she craved and an intimate relationship with some of the most dramatic landscape configurations in the Southwest. In contrast, the Abiquiu house made if possible for her to live part of the year, especially the winters, more comfortably in a less severe environment, which among other things permitted her to grow her own food. If nothing else, the interiors of these two houses, which are characterized by the uncluttered spaces and simple furnishings O'Keeffe demanded, demonstrate how her life in New Mexico was itself a component of the minimalist esthetic that is one of the distinguishing features of her art."
March 23, 2018
Wonderful, well illustrated book on O’Keeffe’s houses. The authors worked with the O’Keeffe Museum to juxtapose photos from the 1950-60s with her paintings. For example, a Photo taken by Georgia of the road coming down next the Chama River on the verso and a painting by her on the right side is one example. It also details her garden at Abiquiu and the water rights she had to secure to keep it so lush. Pictures of her smiling are a treat to see, too.
This book seems to be out of print, but still available online (or at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center).
This book seems to be out of print, but still available online (or at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center).
May 1, 2018
This is an awesome book, filled with photos, of Georgia and intimate photos of friends and acquaintances. Lots of photos of her homes, and the rooms, as well as floor plans. I was particularly interested in the photos of her studios, as well as her gardens and kitchens. Studio photos with work in progress and her work hanging on her walls was very inspiring...
August 10, 2024
Beautiful. I love the concept of this book, to look at the artist through the lens of her homes. Georgia O'Keeffe is so often defined by her surroundings in New Mexico, and looking at the places she built to call home was illuminating into who she was as a person and an artist.
I liked this very much.
I liked this very much.
September 2, 2021
This was really enlightening about how her houses were also a show of her creativity and art.
January 23, 2016
What amazing homes she created! I loved the pre-restoration photos and I learned so much about the process of (re)building adobe structures. I was surprised at how much effort she obviously spent decorating and so frequently redecorating different rooms. I expected she'd have been to busy painting to be bothered with that sort of thing! Very interesting book that made me even more excited for my next trip to NM.
August 16, 2014
Beautiful pictures of O'Keeffe's houses that depict her evolving practical and minimalistic aesthetic. The writing is thorough and insightful, but the pictures are what make the book. Especially interesting to see the way the houses respond to O'Keeffe's beloved N NM landscape. By creating two homes of her own, she certainly found a place to nourish her art. I've visited the Abiquiu house. It's a shame the Ghost Ranch property is not open for tours.
October 26, 2015
If you have visited these houses or plan to, this is a must read. Beautiful photographs and details of both houses will have you paying close attention when you visit. Actually, you cannot visit the Ghost Ranch home; it's not open to the public, so this is a great inside tour of that house. The Abiqui home is open but you must register for the tour. I want to go back and pay attention to all the details revealed in the book.
March 18, 2013
I thought this book was wonderfully well done and give it five stars. Georgia O’Keefe had made $1,000,000 by 1929 on selling her art, and she spent it on these two sparse homes with fabulous views where she had space to think and create.
I soaked up each page and every photo in this book. You’ll enjoy this book if you are interested in art or architecture; it is a terrific mix of both.
I soaked up each page and every photo in this book. You’ll enjoy this book if you are interested in art or architecture; it is a terrific mix of both.
August 21, 2016
Loved it! Georgia was such an artist of place & to see how she lived, & how she chang d the houses, & how the landscape changed her was fascinating. I've been in the general area a couple of times (one fairly recently) & was so thrilled with how beautifully she captured it, & with what an amazing landscape it is.
September 16, 2012
Fine coffee table book, from which I learned a great deal about life here in New Mexico during it's time with O'Keeffe. Pictures were many, varied and beautiful. A fun read.
January 4, 2014
Not surprisingly, her sense of style and design are impeccable. It was interesting to see all the transformations her two homes took over the decades.
August 31, 2016
Large format. Beautiful photos, many juxtaposed with related paintings. I did see the house in 1977, met the dogs and Juan.
April 20, 2017
Beautiful coffee table book that takes you on a photographic tour of O'Keefe's two homes. I loved the juxtaposition of photographs of the houses (past and present) with paintings she did of them (and from them). Seeing how minimally she furnished her houses helps understand her entire art aesthetic. I especially appreciated the diagrams of each home, which I referred to constantly, and the color images of her paintings that you can see in the background of photos of her in her house. As with all coffee table books, I found this one tricky to read due to its big size, and I could have used fewer of the captions that merely detail what you can see for yourself in the photos. But overall I agree with the reviewer who said this is a must-read if you are planning to visit these places.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews