A long-lost 1930 painting by Georgia O’Keeffe, titled Near Abiquiu, New Mexico I, has been rediscovered in an East Village apartment in New York City. The artwork, which had been hidden for decades behind fur coats in a closet, is expected to sell at auction for between $3 million and $5 million. The discovery was made by a woman named Betsy, who found the piece while helping her 98-year-old aunt prepare for hospice care.
The Discovery and Provenance of the Artwork
The painting was originally purchased from the Downtown Gallery on 51st Street, O’Keeffe’s New York dealer, for $3,800—a sum equivalent to approximately $42,000 today. The aunt, a former Foreign Service worker, received the painting as a college graduation gift from her parents in 1963. For several years, the piece was displayed on the wall of her apartment before the owner became wary of guests’ attention to the artwork.
During the 1980s, the aunt repackaged the painting in its original box and placed it in her hall closet, where it remained undisturbed for over 40 years. The family was only informed of the painting’s existence in 2022, when the aunt mentioned it offhandedly. According to The New York Post, the painting’s value now far exceeds the value of the house of the discoverer.
Artistic Significance and Identification
Near Abiquiu, New Mexico I is a 10-by-24-inch canvas depicting a smooth, warm landscape of rolling hills. Christie’s has identified the work as an early version of the abstract New Mexico landscapes that became a central pillar of O’Keeffe’s career. The painting is considered the first of a series of three works depicting Lobo Peak in New Mexico.
- First Painting: Near Abiquiu, New Mexico I (The rediscovered piece).
- Second Painting: Currently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.
- Srd Painting: Held in a private collection.
The only previous record of the painting existed as a 1931 photograph taken by O’Keeffe’s husband, Alfred Stieglitz. Christie’s verified the authenticity of the work via this photograph and O’Keeffe’s distinct signature. As noted in a statement, the work is exquisitely rendered and well preserved, representing the artist’s deep personal engagement with the Southwest landscape.
Auction and Financial Distribution
Tylee Abbott, International Director of American Art at Christie’s, explained to CBS News that the painting was created in 1930, shortly after O’Keeffe’s first visit to New Mexico in 1929. This timing marks the “ground floor” of her inspiration in the region, making the piece historically significant.
The painting is currently on public view in New York until its auction date of November 17. The family has stated that a portion of the proceeds from the sale will be donated to an unnamed educational institution, while the remainder will be used for personal financial obligations, such as paying off a mortgage.
