Sheldon Parsons House and Studio

In the early 20^th century, New York portrait painter Sheldon Parsons came to New Mexico. He was one of Santa Fe’s earliest resident artists and the first director of the New Mexico Museum of Fine Art. His presence drew other painters to the area, leading to the foundation of the city’s renowned art colony.

When Parsons purchased this site for his home, three adobe buildings, which Parsons connected, occupied it; for his studio, he added a second story that peers out onto the surrounding hillside. Over the ensuing decades, his home has been updated for modern living—new plaster, electrical wiring, and plumbing and some new floors have been added—but special attention has been paid to the preservation of the structure’s original footprint and architectural details.

The residence—now a gracious one-bedroom home with a self-sufficient attached guesthouse—embodies classic Pueblo Revival style, characterized by sturdy adobe walls; slender, roughly hewn vigas; and a lengthy portal. Unique yellow trim around windows and doors and original painted detailing by the artist distinguish it. It is a true treasure, filled with tradition and quintessential Santa Fe character.

Completely private and quiet yet only a short walk from Canyon Road and the Plaza, the timeless site is now a dazzling sanctuary of flowers, shrubs, thriving roses and lilacs, grass, and mature trees. A private well and drip-irrigation system maintain the irresistible lushness, and the brick portal and patio areas allows for easy, gracious outdoor relaxation and entertaining in full view of the vibrant surroundings.