• E.I. Couse in his studio at work on San Juan Pottery, 1911. Couse first came to Taos in 1902, at the suggestion of Ernest Blumenschein.

    E.I. Couse in his studio at work on San Juan Pottery, 1911. Couse first came to Taos in 1902, at the suggestion of Ernest Blumenschein.

  • J.H. Sharp and his wife Louise with E. I. Couse’s grandchildren, Virginia and Irving.

    J.H. Sharp and his wife Louise with E. I. Couse’s grandchildren, Virginia and Irving.

  • E.I. Couse with his grandchildren, Virginia and Irving. Virginia Couse Leavitt became a guiding force of the Couse Foundation.

    E.I. Couse with his grandchildren, Virginia and Irving. Virginia Couse Leavitt became a guiding force of the Couse Foundation.

  • J.H. Sharp in his studio, 1946. Sharp was the first to come to Taos, in 1893, and eventually built this studio.

    J.H. Sharp in his studio, 1946. Sharp was the first to come to Taos, in 1893, and eventually built this studio.

  • Kibbey Whitman Couse, the only child of E.I. Couse and his wife Virginia, was a noted inventor.

    Kibbey Whitman Couse, the only child of E.I. Couse and his wife Virginia, was a noted inventor.

  • Kibbey Couse’s machine shop on the Couse–Sharp Historic Site.

    Kibbey Couse’s machine shop on the Couse–Sharp Historic Site.

  • Rendering, by David Henry of Henry Architects, of the Archive Research Facility to be built on the Couse–Sharp Historic Site.

    Rendering, by David Henry of Henry Architects, of the Archive Research Facility to be built on the Couse–Sharp Historic Site.

  • Virginia Couse Leavitt, E.I.’s granddaughter, and her late husband, Ernest Leavitt. Visionary custodians of a unique legacy.

    Virginia Couse Leavitt, E.I.’s granddaughter, and her late husband, Ernest Leavitt. Visionary custodians of a unique legacy.

Couse Foundation celebration weekend draws hundreds

In June, The Couse Foundation hosted a whirlwind weekend of activities including dedication of a monument thanking our founders and the grand opening of the restored J. H. Sharp Studio, crowned by our Fifth Biennial Gala and Art Auction the evening of June 10.

“We are delighted with the enriching and enjoyable experience we were able to provide to hundreds of art lovers,” said Davison Packard Koenig, the Foundation’s executive director and curator.

“In addition, the Gala proved to be our most successful fundraising event ever. We are deeply grateful to the artists and businesses who made our auctions the talk of the town, to our many dedicated volunteers, and to our generous bidders and donors,” Koenig said. Read more...

 

Two visionary painters, whose art captured the Southwest.

Explore the studios of E. I. Couse and J. H. Sharp, founding members of the Taos Society of Artists. These two painters helped create the cultural fabric of Taos as we know it today.
Wander through the Couse home and see how these pioneer painters lived. Stand at Couse’s easel, see the model’s stage and props. Nothing is under glass. All remains as it was 100 years ago.  Witness this unbroken chain of history as it is preserved into the future, with the restoration of Sharp’s studio and the building of a new archive.

Learn more about the artists on the Couse Portfolio and Sharp Portfolio pages.

Visit Our Store »

 

 



Upcoming Events