William Penhallow Henderson Studio

William Penhallow Henderson and his wife Alice Corbin Henderson were at the forefront of activities among New Mexico’s art colonists that mixed art, advocacy, and commercialism. They harnessed the region’s unique peoples and landscapes as the key subject matter of their work. The construction of Henderson’s Studio in 1919 coincided with his transition from painting as his primary source of livelihood to architecture and furniture design and fabrication. The Studio is of profound historical significance because it is the earliest architectural work in Santa Fe by one of this region’s most influential cultural figures. It is a picturesque composition utilizing the prototypical forms and materials of the Pueblo Revival style, while also revealing examples of Henderson’s search for innovative motifs and details. Perhaps the most fitting tribute to the importance of William Penhallow Henderson’s architectural oeuvre was written by John Gaw Meem, who had this to say about the work of his friend and occasional competitor:

“Henderson’s contribution to the development and perpetuation of the regional architecture was a major one. It is astonishing in looking back over the work he did in the 1920’s and 30’s to see how well his buildings have stood the test of time, not only physically, but aesthetically. His strong individuality left its impress on every structure he designed, most of which he did in the Spanish-Pueblo style. These are characterized by sensitive adaptation to site and by a feeling for the solidarity inherent in adobe construction. He carried this out in the proportion of his rooms, in the detail and color of beams and doors and even in the design of the furniture which he was frequently commissioned to do. The result was a harmonious integration of the whole.”

Excerpt and photos from Nomination by Larry Good.