Home / Arts and Entertainment / Trash Art Treasure: Stolen Masterpiece Found on Sidewalk
Trash Art Treasure: Stolen Masterpiece Found on Sidewalk
7 Oct
Summary
- Painting found in trash on Manhattan's Upper West Side was stolen.
- Artwork identified as Rufino Tamayo's 'Tres Personajes' from 1970.
- Finder was set to receive a $15,000 reward for its recovery.
In 2003, Elizabeth Gibson discovered a vibrantly colored abstract painting amidst trash on Manhattan's Upper West Side. Initially unaware of its significance, Gibson's persistent investigation led her to realize the artwork was a stolen masterpiece.
The painting was identified as Rufino Tamayo's 1970 creation, 'Tres Personajes.' It had been purchased in 1977 by a Houston couple and was stolen during their relocation in 1987. Despite being reported to authorities and listed in art loss databases, its whereabouts remained unknown for two decades.
Sotheby's prepared to auction 'Tres Personajes' in late 2007, estimating its value at up to $1 million. Gibson, who had found the painting four years prior, was set to receive a $15,000 reward offered by the original owners. Tamayo, a celebrated Mexican artist known for his vivid style, died in 1991.
