A mystery unfolding in San Francisco is all about art. A local couple is trying to determine the origins of a sculpture found in their backyard, and they believe there is a good possibility it was created by a well-known Art Deco artist.
Greg Gatwood was digging in his Russian Hill backyard in May, doing some landscaping, when he unearthed the sculpture. He showed it to his partner, artist Judy Gittlesohn.
After studying the piece, Gittlesohn became convinced it could have been done by Ralph Stackpole. Stackpole was a renowned muralist and sculptor whose works include the statue in front of San Francisco’s old Stock Exchange. He also contributed some of the murals inside Coit Tower.
Adding weight to the theory, Stackpole taught at what is now known as the San Francisco Art Institute, which is located very close to where Gatwood found the buried statue.
Gittlesohn and Gatwood recently joined NBC Bay Area to discuss the discovery and the lingering questions surrounding the piece. The couple is trying to determine why a sculpture was buried in their backyard in the first place, and whether it was simply thrown away or secretly hidden.
Gittlesohn is detailing why Stackpole immediately came to mind and the extensive work she has done to connect the statue to him. The couple is now searching for a way to definitively prove the sculpture’s origins. They are currently looking into who they can talk to, such as a specialized committee or university, that can verify if Stackpole was indeed the sculptor.
As the investigation continues, Gatwood and Gittlesohn are also left to consider what they will do with the artwork if it is never officially connected to the famous artist.