The Couse-Sharp Historic Site

The Couse-Sharp Historic Site covers 2.3 acres a quarter mile east of Taos Plaza, on a ridge overlooking the town to the south and the Sangre de Cristo range. The buildings represent styles of New Mexico architecture from Spanish Colonial of the 1830s to Pueblo Revival of the 1930s. The site includes the furnished home and studio of Couse and two studio buildings of his neighbor and colleague, Sharp. Another feature is the historic garden created by Couse's wife, Virginia, believed to be the first decorative garden in the area and maintained with the plants and flowers she chose. It also includes the mechanical workshop and laboratory of their inventor son, Kibbey.

Both artists engaged Native Americans from the Taos Pueblo as models, some of whom became close friends of the family. The site today maintains ties with many of the models' descendants, and strives to promote Native art much as the original charter of the TSA directed.

The Couse house, with its original architecture, furnishings and collections, is the most complete extant example of life in the early Taos art colony. The Couses collected historic Native American pottery, clothing and artifacts, and 18th-19th century Northern New Mexican religious art (santos and retablos). The Couse Home and Studio tells the story not only of the artist, but of his family.


The earliest building on the site is the Luna Chapel, dating from c. 1830, which was purchased by Sharp in 1909 and modified for use as a studio. The building now serves as an exhibit space. Sharp's second studio, built in 1915, was completely restored in 2017 and now houses a permanent rotating exhibition of Sharp's paintings, collected objects, and personal artifacts. Vintage photographs are a reminder of what these spaces were like when occupied by Sharp and the views so important in many of his landscapes are still recognizable.

Sharp, who had no children, ultimately sold his property to Kibbey Couse. The property remained in the Couse family until it passed into the care of The Couse Foundation in 2012. In 2017, the foundation agreed to acquire the adjacent Mission Gallery building, which includes within it the last extant remnants of Sharp's home. Once renovations are complete, the building will house archives of material related to all of the TSA members, exhibits of relevant artwork and artifacts, and a research facility for scholarly use.