Jun 13, 2026
In the 1960s, a colorful painting at a White Plains, N.Y., thrift store caught Helene Plotkin’s eye. Drawn in by the vibrant colors and bold brushwork, she paid less than $100 for the painting and took it home. It hung on her wall for decades, until last December, when her son became curious about the painting’s origins.
“I never, never thought about it at all,” Plotkin said in a recent telephone interview with the New York Times, “other than I loved the painting.”
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The painting features a seated woman in black, turned towards the viewer, in what appears to be a home setting, with shelves lining the walls behind her. While the woman looks fairly realistic, the background features slashes of bright orange and yellow, indicative of the short-lived Fauvist style favored by artists like Henri Matisse following the Impressionist style in the early 1900s.
Plotkin’s son, Barry, remembers his mother occasionally commenting on the painting’s origins, but never investigating its provenance. At least not until late last year, when Barry decided to use Google’s AI assistant to find more information about it.
After snapping a photo of the painting, he uploaded it to Gemini and asked what it could tell him. Within moments, Gemini flagged the painting as a Scottish Colorist work and suggested it might belong to F.C.B. Cadell, a well-known early 20th-century painter. Professional appraisers at Edinburgh auction house Lyon & Turnbull later confirmed it.
The painting was recently sold in a private auction for nearly $254,000.
Why so many hidden gems remain undiscovered
While Plotkin’s story is dramatic, it’s not the first time paintings by famous artists have been discovered decades later. However, using AI to uncover their origins is unique. So why are so many masterpieces found in unexpected places?
For starters, many artists are not famous in their lifetimes. Vincent Van Gogh, arguably one of the most famous artists in the world, gained some recognition while alive, but his rise to fame didn’t occur until after his death. He often traded his paintings with friends for food or art supplies, which could have easily ended up in an attic or, perhaps, even a thrift store.
Theft of art during wars is also common, most notably during World War II. Experts estimate that nearly one-fifth of all art in Europe was looted by the Nazis. Hundreds of thousands of pieces remain missing to this day. It’s not hard to imagine some landing in thrift stores after someone passes away.
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For many owners of such items, the barrier to identifying them isn’t scarcity; it’s the hassle of getting something properly assessed. Hauling a dusty painting to an auction house, only to be turned away, feels like more effort than it’s worth.
Barry said as much himself: Even as his mother occasionally wondered aloud about the painting’s origins, neither of them ever acted on it. AI, however, could make it easier than ever to uncover art lost to time with just a five-minute conversation.
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How to use AI to find out how much your stuff is worth
Have a painting, piece of jewelry, or furniture you’ve always wondered about? Here’s how to leverage AI to see if you’re sitting on a gold mine.
Take high-quality pictures
AI image tools are only as good as what you give them. For art, photograph it straight on in natural light and add close-ups of any signatures, stamps, or markings on the back.
For jewelry or furniture, get the maker’s marks, hallmarks, and engravings. The more detail, the better. Upload multiple images to give the tool more to work with.
Ask specific questions
Don’t just ask AI, “What is this?” Push the AI tool to get more detailed: What style is it? What time period might it have been painted or created in? What should I look for on the back or underside?
In the Plotkin case, Gemini not only identified the likely artist but directed Barry to check the back of the canvas, where they found an auction marking and canvas stamp that helped confirm the attribution.
Ask for help finding experts
This is one of the most underrated steps. Gemini didn’t just identify Plotkin’s painting; it also recommended specific specialists at a specific auction house. The lack of that type of information is what holds many people back.
Most reputable auction houses offer free initial assessments, and organizations like the American Society of Appraisers can help you find a certified expert in your area.
There’s one caveat, however: AI can be wrong and sometimes hallucinates, so don’t take the first answer at face value. It’s worth verifying answers with several tools and doing some research of your own before going the length to talk to experts or visit auction houses. That said, as a free tool, AI can help you get started on your research.
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Danielle is a personal finance writer whose work has appeared in publications including Motley Fool and Business Insider. She believes financial literacy key to helping people build a life they love. She’s especially passionate about helping families and kids learn smart money habits early.
