Entertainment · Books & Arts · 9 hrs ago
Long-lost Georgia O’Keeffe painting heads to auction with $3 million estimate
A Georgia O’Keeffe landscape hidden for decades has resurfaced in a New York City apartment.
The 1930 painting, “Near Abiquiu, New Mexico I,” was found at the back of a closet in Manhattan’s East Village by a woman helping her elderly aunt clear the apartment.
Her aunt had received it as a graduation gift in 1963 and kept it in the apartment for years.
Christie’s will auction the painting on November 17, with an estimate of $2 million to $3 million.
The work depicts Lobo Peak in New Mexico and is considered an important early painting from O’Keeffe’s time developing her interest in the region’s high desert.
Some proceeds will go to an education institution, while the rest will go to the woman and her family.
Georgia O’Keeffe’s 1930 painting “Near Abiquiu, New Mexico I” is heading to Christie’s 20th Century Evening Sale.
The work was found in an East Village apartment closet after being out of public view for decades.
Christie’s estimates the painting will sell for $2 million to $3 million.
A Rhode Island woman found it while helping her elderly aunt clear the apartment.
The aunt received the painting as a graduation gift in 1963, after her mother bought it for $3,800.
- Who
- Georgia O’Keeffe painted the work; a Rhode Island woman found it while helping her aunt clear the apartment.
- What
- Near Abiquiu, New Mexico I” is being offered at auction with an estimate of $2 million to $3 million.
- When
- Christie’s sale is scheduled for November 17, 2026.
- Where
- The painting was found in a closet in an East Village apartment; it will be auctioned by Christie’s.
- Why
- The painting is being offered for sale; the sources do not state a specific reason for the auction.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The aunt received the painting as a graduation gift from her mother, who bought it from The Downtown Gallery for $3,800.
The aunt reportedly took the painting down after noticing a guest looking at it closely.
The aunt mentioned that an O’Keeffe painting was in the closet as they prepared the home for health aides.
Betsy found the painting at the back of the closet while helping her aunt.
The painting is scheduled to go to auction at Christie’s 20th Century Evening Sale.
- Artist
- Georgia O’Keeffe
- Work
- Near Abiquiu, New Mexico I” (1930)
- Auction house
- Christie’s
- Estimate
- $2 million to $3 million
- Original purchase
- $3,800 in 1963
- Auction date
- November 17, 2026
3 sources
What people are saying
I thought, wow, that’s that’s pretty wild
I wondered, ‘Is there any way I can keep this?’ … But once we started exploring what the value of the piece was, I realized that it’s worth more than my house.
important early work
likely the first iteration in a series of three works depicting Lobo Peak, north of Taos Pueblo.