Get to Know: Giustina Renzoni

The departure of Agapita “Pita” Judy Lopez, Georgia O’Keeffe’s former companion and mainstay of the Georgia O’Keeffe Foundation and Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, left big shoes to fill at O’Keeffe’s Home & Studio in Abiquiú.

With two decades of experience in art and curatorial work and seven years at the O’Keeffe, Giustina Renzoni was recently appointed Director of Historic Properties and is ready to take the next steps in projects and operations in Abiquiú at the Welcome Center, Home & Studio, and O’Keeffe’s Home at Ghost Ranch. Let’s get to know Giustina Renzoni.

Georgia O’Keeffe Museum: First congratulations on your new role. But before we talk more about you, we’d be remiss if we didn’t first talk about Pita. You worked with her probably closer than anyone else in recent years, what was that like?

Giustina Renzoni: In the realm of historic houses and properties, it’s exceedingly rare to work with someone like Pita and her brothers, Maggie, Mino, and Steve. Not only is she extremely generous in sharing her knowledge and memories, but her leadership ensured that the direction we are moving in has always stayed true to O’Keeffe’s intentions. She and the Lopez family really embraced me and I’m so thankful for her friendship. I will never be Pita but with her mentorship, inspiration, and all that she taught me, I’m confident and excited for what’s to come.

GOKM: Can you tell us a little bit about your career and how it led you to New Mexico?

GR: I’ve been working in museums since I was 19, when I started as a gallery attendant. After spending time as a research curatorial assistant, working for an auction house, managing galleries, and even on a preparator team, I explored many aspects of working in the arts and knew I wanted a career in museums. Eventually, I found my way from my hometown of Boston to Denver, where I worked for the Denver Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver. I was living in Colorado and traveling to New Mexico for years, camping and exploring. During those trips, as clichéd as it sounds, I really fell in love with the landscape and the history of Northern New Mexico.

GOKM: What drew you to working for the Museum?

GR: I grew up in New England, the daughter of an architect, and just down the street from a historic home once owned by a Revolutionary War general. Needless to say, I visited a lot of historic houses throughout my childhood. But aside from visiting them, I didn’t know much about maintaining them. When the opportunity to work for the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum came up, I was thrilled. First, there aren’t many museums dedicated to a woman, and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is exceptional for its collections and archives—artwork, correspondence, photographs, oral histories, books, textiles—it’s incredible.

The Historic Properties perfectly combine my interests in Spanish colonial visual culture, New Mexican history, and modern design, so that was a huge draw. The house itself is so dynamic—it held two centuries of history even before O’Keeffe stepped onto the property. When she purchased and renovated it, she didn’t try to hide those layers. Instead, she embraced them, putting her own spin on the space. It gives such valuable insight into O’Keeffe as a person, not just an artist.

GOKM: You’ve overseen exhibitions and overseeing tours in Abiquiú for seven years now. What short- and long-term goals for the Home & Studio do you have in your new position?

There is a lot more in the house and its history that we haven’t been able to tap into yet. This year, we are offering a new tour for families and children that sees the Home & Studio through the eyes of an explorer. It will have Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) principles that connect with school curriculums. I’m hopeful this tour can help us grow our field trip program and connect with local youth.

In the long term, I want to continue to find ways to offer new experiences and increase access to the homes in Abiquiú and at Ghost Ranch, while prioritizing the stewardship and preservation of those sites. What that looks like right now I’m not sure, but we have a really great team that continually finds ways to keep the space alive and dynamic.

GOKM: You curate the objects seen on the Home & Studio tours, including O’Keeffe’s clothes. What’s your favorite piece of clothing in the Collection?

GR: An Emilio Pucci dress from Lord & Taylor. While it’s in the black and white palette O’Keeffe preferred, this is not the sort of dress she is typically envisioned wearing. It’s predominately white instead of black, with subtle details like an asymmetric collar, contrasting cuffs, and the color blocking. There is a combination of details and simplicity that is understated and powerful at the same time.

GOKM: Do you have a favorite piece of furniture in the Collection?

GR: Curating Artful Living: O’Keeffe and Modern Design, a recent exhibition of O’Keeffe’s personal effects at the Welcome Center, gave me a deeper knowledge of the decorative arts collection and why O’Keeffe collected so much furniture. My favorite piece is a beautiful upright leather chair by Mogens Kold, a Danish company. The frame is made of rosewood, which is now considered endangered due to over-harvesting, so you rarely see it in furniture now. It’s an exceptionally minimalist piece, but the slight curves give the traditional silhouette an organic shape. You can really see the detail of the wood grain, which gives a beautiful contrast to the rich, black leather. It’s a striking example of mid-century Scandinavian design and craftsmanship.

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Artful Living: O’Keeffe and Modern Design is on view through 2025 at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum Welcome Center in Abiquiú.

Interested in visiting Georgia O’Keeffe’s historic Home & Studio? Tickets are now available for Standard and Extended Tours beginning in March and for brand new offerings kicking off in June! Visit gokm.org for ticket information.