Woman’s niece discovers 1930 painting hidden for decades in New York apartment; artwork bought for $3,800 could fetch $3 million at auction

A casual remark about an old painting tucked away in a closet has led to an extraordinary art-world discovery: a long-unseen work by American modernist Georgia O’Keeffe, valued at around $3 million, is heading to auction after spending nearly four decades out of public view in a New York apartment. The painting, 'Near Abiquiu, New Mexico I', was found by the niece of its owner, who had reportedly kept it packed in its original box after becoming uneasy when a guest appeared to pay it too much attention during a bridge game in the 1980s.The owner’s revelation was disarmingly matter-of-fact.

“Oh, by the way, there’s a Georgia O’Keeffe in the closet,” she reportedly told her niece. The family had not known about the artwork’s existence until then.

After the owner died, her niece contacted Christie’s, setting in motion the process that brought the painting back into the art market and public view.According to People, the 10-by-24-inch oil painting was created in 1930 and depicts Lobo Peak in New Mexico. Christie’s estimates its value at around $3 million.