Olive Rush: The Artist Who Opened Her Door

Visitors strolling Canyon Road often focus on the galleries. But tucked among them is one of Santa Fe's most remarkable historic homes—the former studio of artist Olive Rush.

I recently attended an opening there, where volunteer docents shared the story of a woman whose influence reached far beyond her own paintings. Walking through the quiet adobe rooms, with their original frescoes still decorating the walls and fireplace, it became clear that this was never simply an artist's studio. It was a gathering place, a classroom, and eventually even a meeting house for the Religious Society of Friends—the Quakers—whose values shaped Rush throughout her life.

Olive Rush herself came from Fairmount, Indiana, and studied at Earlham College, another Quaker institution. As a fellow Midwesterner, I couldn't help but smile at that connection. She first visited Santa Fe in 1914 and, like so many before and since, fell under the spell of the high desert. By 1920 she had purchased a modest adobe house on Canyon Road, where she would live and paint for the rest of her life.

Her paintings reveal an artist who was always experimenting. Early work reflects her successful career as an illustrator, while later landscapes become increasingly modern and expressive. Some have the simplified forms and luminous colors that remind today's viewers of Georgia O'Keeffe, although Olive Rush always retained a distinctly personal voice. Her influences ranged from Japanese painting and Chinese art to El Greco and the landscapes of northern New Mexico.

Yet what impressed me most was not simply her art—it was her generosity.

In 1929, after completing murals for La Fonda, she was invited to paint frescoes at the Santa Fe Indian School. Instead, she proposed something far more meaningful: let the students paint the murals themselves, while she taught them the demanding technique of true fresco painting. Many of those young Native artists would go on to distinguished careers, and Rush spent years promoting their work through exhibitions across the country, helping introduce Pueblo and other Indigenous artists to a much wider audience.

Her home reflected that same spirit. Artists, writers, neighbors, travelers, and young painters all found welcome there. Garden parties were legendary, Quaker meetings were held in the studio, and conversations flowed as freely as the tea. Long before Canyon Road became famous for its galleries, Olive Rush's home was already one of its creative hearts.

There is also a bittersweet note to her story. Rush painted beautiful frescoes in La Fonda on the Plaza, helping decorate one of Santa Fe's landmark hotels during its early twentieth-century transformation. Unfortunately, some of those murals were later painted over during remodeling, a reminder that even significant works of art are not always appreciated by later generations. Other frescoes, however, have survived in places such as the former Santa Fe Public Library, New Mexico State University, and several historic post offices throughout the Southwest, allowing visitors to experience her remarkable mastery of the ancient fresco technique.

Santa Fe has no shortage of famous artists. Names like Georgia O'Keeffe, Gustave Baumann, and John Sloan are familiar to many visitors. Olive Rush deserves to stand comfortably among them—not only because she was an accomplished painter, but because she believed art should create friendships, encourage young talent, and strengthen a community.

If your travels take you along Canyon Road, consider pausing at the Olive Rush Studio. The frescoes still glow softly on the old adobe walls, and for a moment it is easy to imagine Olive herself welcoming another visitor through the garden gate.

Planning a Visit

If this hidden corner of Canyon Road has piqued your curiosity, you're in luck. The Olive Rush Historic Artist Home & Garden now offers docent-led tours on most Thursdays and Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to noon. The guides bring Olive's remarkable story to life as they lead visitors through her home, studio, and peaceful garden, pointing out details you might otherwise miss—including the original frescoes and painted decorations she created herself.

After the tour, you can linger in the garden or explore Canyon Road with a new appreciation for one of Santa Fe's quiet artistic treasures. For tour schedules and reservations, visit the Olive Rush Historic Artist Home & Garden website.