An important early painting by Georgia O’Keeffe, titled Near Abiquiu, New Mexico I, has resurfaced after decades in private storage and is set to be auctioned at Christie’s New York. The work, believed to be the first in a series of three depicting Lobo Peak near Taos Pueblo, New Mexico, was discovered in a closet in an East Village apartment. It will be on public view at Christie’s 20 Rockefeller Center from November 7 to November 17 as part of Marquee Week.
O’Keeffe’s Near Abiquiu, New Mexico I exemplifies her fascination with the New Mexico landscape, a subject she explored throughout her career. The painting features expansive skies, rolling hills, and the distinctive light of the region, rendered in her modern abstract style with curving forms and a wide spectrum of color. The composition is dominated by earth tones and textured brushwork, placing viewers in direct connection with the landscape.
This work is considered a precursor to O’Keeffe’s later landscapes and abstractions. The series includes a second painting now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and a third in a private collection, previously owned by David and Peggy Rockefeller. O’Keeffe was captivated by the hills around Abiquiu, painting them repeatedly and describing her desire to capture Lobo Mountain in correspondence with her husband, Alfred Stieglitz.
The rediscovery occurred when a woman, described as extremely private and accomplished, revealed the painting’s existence to her niece earlier this year. The artwork had remained in its original gallery packaging, stored in a closet and unknown to the rest of the family. After the woman’s passing, her niece contacted Christie’s, which authenticated the work and announced it would be included in the 20th Century Evening Sale on November 17.
The painting will be a highlight of Christie’s Marquee Week, which also features works from the collections of Clive Davis, Herbert Lust, Antonio Homem Sonnabend, and others. The public exhibition and auction provide a rare opportunity for collectors and art enthusiasts to engage with a significant piece of American modernism.
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