In April 2012, artist Beth Feeback walked into a Goodwill in Concord, North Carolina, and paid $9.99 for a large canvas she intended to use for her signature cat portraits. She never saw the work as investment; instead she saw a blank slate for her next project.
A friend’s suggestion to inspect the back of the canvas revealed a hidden signature and a label that linked the work to the Weatherspoon Art Museum. Feeback traced the marks to Ilya Bolotowsky’s 1966 piece “Vertical Diamond,” a geometric abstraction that had previously hung at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
The painting was authenticated by Sotheby’s experts and entered the auction house’s catalog with a conservative estimate of $15,000–$20,000. On September 21, 2012, the piece sold for $27,000 at the hammer, with the buyer’s premium bringing the final tally to $34,375.
Feeback, who had only intended to repurpose the canvas, now plans to use the proceeds for home renovations and debt repayment. The sale underscores how a modest thrift‑store purchase can unexpectedly intersect with high‑value art markets, reminding collectors that provenance and a keen eye can unlock hidden worth.