Long-Lost Georgia O’Keeffe Landscape to Be Auctioned in New York

A significant early 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 17 November 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. Shortly after this disclosure, the owner passed away, and the niece contacted Christie’s with photographs of the work. Following expert evaluation, Christie’s confirmed the painting’s authenticity and included it in their 20th Century Evening Sale.

Near Abiquiu, New Mexico I is believed to be the first in a series of three paintings depicting Lobo Peak, a mountain north of Taos Pueblo in 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 early work reflects O’Keeffe’s fascination with the New Mexico landscape, which she frequently explored through her modern abstract style, highlighting curving forms, bright sunlight, and a wide range of colours.

The painting is dominated by undulating earth tones and rich impasto, inviting viewers into a direct dialogue with the landscape. It exemplifies O’Keeffe’s interest in the unique qualities of New Mexico’s light and air, which contrast sharply with the dense urban environment of New York City. O’Keeffe herself expressed a deep connection to this mountain range, describing it in a letter to her husband Alfred Stieglitz and expressing a desire to paint it repeatedly.

Christie’s is showcasing the rediscovered work as part of its Marquee Week exhibition at 20 Rockefeller Center, New York, from 7 to 17 November 2026. The event also features collections from notable figures such as Clive Davis and Herbert Lust. The painting is expected to be a highlight of the auction, with an estimated value between $3 million and $5 million.

This discovery adds a rare and important piece to the public’s understanding of O’Keeffe’s early engagement with the New Mexico landscape, offering insight into the development of her iconic style and subject matter. The auction provides an opportunity for collectors and enthusiasts to acquire a work that bridges her early and later artistic periods.