Manhattan family uncovers $3 million Georgia O'Keeffe painting hidden in closet

A Georgia O'Keeffe painting that sat hidden in a Manhattan apartment closet for decades is going up for auction in New York. The artwork, which depicts a New Mexico landscape, has been valued by Christie's at between $3 million and $5 million.

The 1930 painting shows rolling hills in earth tones near Lobo Peak in Taos. It is considered an early example from the period when O'Keeffe became interested in the American Southwest. Christie's identified the piece as likely the first in a series of three. A second painting from the series is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The third was kept in the Rockefeller family collection for many years.

Tylee Abbott, director of American Art at Christie's, stated that the painting is important because of its early date. She described it as representing the inception point of O'Keeffe's time in the American Southwest. Before its recent discovery, the location of this specific canvas was largely unknown. Art historians had only seen it through photographs taken in 1931.

The painting was purchased in 1963 by a New York woman for $3,800. She gave the work to her daughter, who lived in the East Village. The daughter never married and worked with the U.S. Foreign Service. She was described by family members as private and intelligent. The family believes she received the painting as a graduation gift after earning a master's degree in the 1960s.

The daughter displayed the artwork in her apartment until the mid-1980s. She noticed a guest looking at the piece closely and subsequently placed it back into its original packing crate. She stored the crate in the back of a closet. Her niece, who has cared for her for several years, said the older woman first mentioned the painting in the front closet around 2022.

The painting remained in the closet until this year, when the family began cleaning out the apartment to settle the deceased woman's affairs. Once unboxed, the work showed clear signs of authenticity. It features O'Keeffe's signature marking on the back, consisting of a star with the initials OK inside. O'Keeffe died in 1986 at age 98 and is known for her abstract style and Southwestern landscapes.

The family asked Christie's to keep their identities private. They shared details about the discovery with the auction house and The Associated Press. The painting is scheduled for auction on Tuesday.