CA · International contemporary art platformA long-lost landscape by Georgia O’Keeffe, titled Near Abiquiu, New Mexico I, is set to be offered at auction by Christie’s in New York on November 17, 2026. The painting was recently rediscovered after being stored in its original gallery packing inside a closet in an East Village apartment. It remained unknown to the family until the owner revealed its existence to her niece earlier this year. Following the owner’s passing, the niece contacted Christie’s, which authenticated the work and included it in their 20th Century Evening Sale.
Near Abiquiu, New Mexico I is an early and significant work by O’Keeffe, likely the first in a series of three paintings depicting Lobo Peak near Taos Pueblo, New Mexico. The second painting in the series is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, while the third is in a private collection that once belonged to David and Peggy Rockefeller. This series highlights O’Keeffe’s fascination with the New Mexico landscape, which she frequently explored through her modern abstract style.
The painting features undulating earth tones and rich impasto, capturing the expansive skies and rolling hills characteristic of the region. It reflects O’Keeffe’s deep engagement with the qualities of light and air in New Mexico, contrasting with the dense urban environment of New York City. The artist expressed a particular attachment to Lobo Mountain, describing it in correspondence as a subject she longed to paint repeatedly.
Christie’s is presenting Near Abiquiu, New Mexico I as a highlight of its Marquee Week exhibition, which runs from November 7 to 17 at 20 Rockefeller Center. The exhibition is free and open to the public, showcasing this rediscovered work alongside other notable collections. The auction estimate for the painting is between $3 million and $5 million.
This rediscovery adds a rare and important piece to O’Keeffe’s body of work, offering insight into her early exploration of New Mexico’s landscape. It also provides the public with a unique opportunity to view a painting that had remained hidden for decades before entering the auction spotlight in New York.
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