Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

A Gertrude Abercrombie estate sale find heads to art auction

suntimes.com · 2h · first reportShare

The “picker” arrived late in July at a Michigan estate sale in search of albums and mid-century furniture. But in a hallway leading to the garage, he stumbled onto something else: a small painting that depicted nine shells. Intrigued, he took a chance on it, paying $30. Green Room Newsletter You’re subscribed! Please check your inbox for your confirmation. Stay ahead of what’s hitting Chicago stages, galleries, museums and more with Green Room, WBEZ’s weekly arts & culture newsletter! Sorry, there was an error registering your email. Email Sign Up By subscribing, you agree with WBEZ’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy It turned out to be a big find, an unlikely discovery of a prime work by Gertrude Abercrombie (1909-1977). The Chicago painter created distinctive, introspective works that merge the real and dream-like – enigmatic self-portraits, barren landscapes, empty interiors and quirky still lifes. The newly uncovered work, titled “Alderman Merriam’s Shells” (1951), is scheduled to b