A shopper in South River, Ontario, slipped a canvas into a donation bin in 2020, paid five dollars, and later spotted a David Bowie signature on its reverse.
Cowley Abbott immediately contacted a Bowie specialist in the United Kingdom, who confirmed the work as D Head XLVI from the artist’s 1995‑1997 Dead Heads series.
The painting, once a humble thrift‑store find, showcases Bowie's expressionist influence and bold figurative style, reflecting his visual art phase.
At the spring 2021 auction, the piece fetched C$108,120—nearly ten times its pre‑sale estimate—and eclipsed previous sales, cementing the rarity of Bowie's works on the market.