Woman shocked to learn $125 painting she bought on Facebook Marketplace could be worth enormous amount
A woman who thought about returning ‘a dream work of art’ was shocked to discover its potential value.
Christie Grace revealed in a TikTok video from June 7 that a $125 painting she bought on Facebook Marketplace could be worth thousands of dollars.
This revelation came less than a week after she had a video on TikTok asking viewers if she should return the artwork due to its enormous size.
According to the TikToker, she looked up the artist, Helmut Kollerand discovered that his paintings could be sold online for anywhere from $50,000 to $200,000.
‘She didn’t say anything about the artist. I guess she didn’t know anything about the artist,” Grace said in her June 7 video about the Facebook seller.
Christie Grace revealed in a June 7 TikTok video that a $125 painting she bought on Facebook Marketplace could be worth thousands of dollars
Grace was looking for large prints for her living room that were ‘affordable and unique’.
Tiger-centric artworks appeared on Etsy and Facebook Marketplace, leading her to discover the painting that Grace called “an incredible piece.”
The TikTok user “trembled” in shock the next day after researching the artist and discovering how much his artwork usually sells for.
Grace explained that the woman she bought the painting from probably had no idea how much the artwork was worth.
“The girl I bought this from on Facebook Marketplace said she bought this painting and some others at a random estate sale and kept them for a while,” Grace said.
“She just pointed out that there are disgusting things in the painting, so I definitely need to see how I can preserve it better.”
Grace went back to Koller’s website to look for similar paintings and two acrylic on canvases similar to her piece were worth $66,000 and $140,000.
The TikToker added that she also needs to get her painting “appraised and authentic” and begged her art-savvy viewers to help.
“If anyone has experience figuring out how much art is worth…I would certainly appreciate it,” she said.
Grace was looking for large prints for her living room that were “affordable and unique” when she found the artwork on Facebook Marketplace
Grace looked up the artist, Helmut Koller, and discovered that his paintings could sell for between $50,000 and $200,000 online.
Grace posted one video update on June 8, revealing that she had contacted Koller and “emailed back and forth.”
She then contacted the seller via Facebook Marketplace to get more information about the artwork.
“I can’t say anything else at this time, but I will keep you posted as soon as I get something final that I want to share,” Grace said.
“But I just want to say a big thank you to all the people who have reached out and offered to help… I love the side of TikTok that really wants people to succeed.”
The large canvas artwork that Grace purchased is not currently for sale at Koller’s artwork archive on his website.
However, similar tiger paintings, along with those of insects, giraffes and lions, are available to anyone wishing to purchase an authentic Koller piece.
There are also at least five works of art created by Koller for sale in his artwork archive that are worth only $36,000 to $45,000.
Grace went back to Koller’s website to look for similar paintings and found an acrylic on canvas painting called Leopard in Teal & Yellow, which is worth $140,000.
Koller’s artwork has been featured in several galleries, but he also owns six galleries: four in the US and two in Europe.
Koller was born in 1954 and is an Austrian-born artist known for his colorful and festive paintings of animals, according to Fritz Gallery.
The animals he painted came from four continents, including Europe and Africa.
He became a photographer for the Vienna State Opera in 1974 and spent seven years photographing stars such as Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo.
Koller wrote several books in the 1980s, including OPERA LIVE – The Vienna State Opera, and published his first collection of paintings in 1987.
The growing legend gave up photography in 1988 to focus on becoming a professional artist, and has since released multiple art collections.
Koller currently lives and works in Palm Beach, Florida, and Vienna, Austria, and has galleries in four states: California, Colorado, Connecticut, and Florida.
He also has two European galleries in Italy and Germany.
Like Grace, other TikTokers may not have been aware of the artist, but they did suggest that the artwork’s owner wouldn’t sell it.
Koller became a photographer for the Vienna State Opera in 1974 and spent seven years photographing stars such as Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo
“Everything has to work around the Tiger… Lose the plank,” one TikToker wrote in the comments section of her first video on June 11.
Other TikTok users who commented on Grace’s second video were enthusiastic and also advised her on what to do regarding the artwork’s review.
“You can get multiple appraisals if you’re afraid of being lowballed,” one commenter wrote.
‘Take photos of brush strokes and details and email the artist’s website. At least they can tell you if they made prints.”
Another person wrote, “I love that you bought it because you loved it and not for its potential resale value. The commercialization of art has reduced its true appreciation.’