GOK (Georgia O’Keefe) was a fascinating woman as seen in her Southwestern lifestyle as well as in her painting.
Georgia O’Keefe by Yousuf Karsh.
A recent trip to Abiquiú, New Mexico, to see the home of GOK, further increased my appreciation of this woman. She purchased a rundown adobe hacienda, which took ten years, and then took another three to restore it. All the while she was living in New York tying up the estate of her newly deceased husband Alfred Stieglitz. Like many artists, she was inspired by the incredible scenery and spirituality found in New Mexico.
Lilacs and forsythia bloomed during our visit.
Taking a tour of the home, we learned that she loved music. She purchased the highest quality equipment placing it in both the living room and the studio. Her furnishings were sparse but meaningful.
Our guide said GOK traveled the world twice around during her lifetime. Rocks were collected and brought back home for decoration.
Although she already owned property at nearby Ghost Ranch, GOK purchased this property because of the garden. She insisted on eating fresh fruit and vegetables. The property had nut and fruit trees as well as beds for growing seasonal produce.
Each view outside and within the house looked like a framed photo.
Objects were artfully placed.
A favorite part of the house was this quirky faced pushed into the stucco wall.
Reclaimed wood was used to create the ceilings.
The house’s original living room was used for storage by GOK.
Her tidy pantry exemplifies the order and thoughtfulness within the home.
O’Keefe was meticulous in her style of dress and manner of furnishing her home. The cohesive selection of items shows a modern style that mirrors that of her art.
The windows in her large painting studio brought in substantial light and views of the Abiquiú landscape.
In addition to painting, she created sculptures, but only three. One of the three sits to the right of the fireplace.
This small bed was where her caregiver slept during GOK’s later years when she required assistance.
The sparse bedroom had abundant views.
Abiquiú is about an hour outside of Santa Fe. It is well worth the side trip. We went on a behind the scenes tour that afforded us some additional access within her house. Book early as the tours are confined to small groups due to the scale of some of the rooms.
Casa V studies fascinating women for continued inspiration.