Jackson Pollock painting found in Arizona garage could be worth $15M
Jun 13, 2017, 10:48 AM | Updated: 1:23 pm
(J. Levine Auction & Appraisal Photo)
(J. Levine Auction & Appraisal Photo)
PHOENIX — A painting found in an Arizona garage that is being attributed to famed artist Jackson Pollock could fetch $15 million at auction.
The painting was discovered by Valley auctioneer Josh Levine in a Sun City garage. In a press release, he said the artwork was found when he was called in to appraise a piece of sports memorabilia.
“Interestingly, this estate first came to our attention when we were contacted to take a look at a signed 1992 L.A. Lakers poster,” Levine, who owns J. Levine Auction and Appraisal, said.
“We ended up signing a contract to auction the contents of the estate, and that’s when we found many of the paintings stored away.”
Levine found the painting in January 2016, but spent thousands of dollars and more than a year authenticating it. Though he found the artwork in the estate of Gordon Cosgriff, the painting was owned primarily by his half-sister, Jenifer.
Levine said Jenifer, who lived in New York City, was known for socializing with top East Coast artists, including Pollock.
“I found Jenifer’s life story quite fascinating and began traveling down a wormhole of sorts as I read about past art shows and parties she attended,” he said in the release.
The painting was passed to her half-brother following Jenifer’s death.
Levine also hired a private investigator and forensics team to assist in the authentication process.
“The forensic report really just reaffirmed what I already believed to be true based on the provenance,” Levine said.
“I’ve spent hundreds of hours researching how this Pollock could end up here in Arizona, and I am confident that this is an original Pollock.”
Levine will auction the painting on June 20 at 11 a.m. in Scottsdale.
Pollock, born in Wyoming, was a major figure in the abstract expressionist movement. Two of his works are among the most expensive paintings ever sold.
