Artnet: Here Are 8 Mythic Artist Studios to Visit Across America, From Georgia O’Keeffe’s Desert Retreat to Winslow Homer’s Ocean-Sprayed Bungalow

Some ideas for your next cross-country roadtrip.

Annikka Olsen, February 22, 2023

This article appears in Artnet News.

Winslow Homer, Scarborough, Maine

The Winslow Homer original studio on Prouts Neck, Portland Museum of Art. Photo: Gordon Chibroski/Portland Press Herald via Getty Images.

American painter Winslow Homer (1836–1910) initially worked as a commercial illustrator before he began experimenting with oil paints in the early 1860s. Largely self-taught, Homer garnered a reputation for his captivating landscapes, particularly those involving marine subject matter, leading him to become one of the most celebrated painters of the 19th century.

Hailing from Boston, Homer relocated to Scarborough, Maine, in the 1880s, seeking rural solitude and taking inspiration from the natural landscape. Homer’s home and studio fell into relative obscurity following his death, but in 2006 the Portland Museum of Art purchased the property and spent six years renovating and restoring the building. In 2012, the studio opened its doors to the public for the first time, allowing visitors to discover the landscape that was central to the artist’s work.