Woman thrifted a painting she loved and then discovered it was worth $2,500. The artist wanted it back — but only on one condition

Every thrifter dreams of discovering a hidden treasure worth thousands of dollars, but only a fortunate few ever do. Recently, Aubrey (@fruity.housewife) hit the jackpot when she thrifted a painting during her latest secondhand adventure. While browsing through the aisles, a striking Art Deco painting of a woman holding a martini caught her eye. So, without thinking twice, she bought it. Although she knew she had found something rare, Aubs couldn't quite decipher the signature. That's when she turned to the internet for answers on August 20, 2026, through a post that now has over 249,000 views, and they didn't disappoint.

A striking thrift discovery

The story began when Aubrey was casually walking through a local thrift shop when a painting caught her attention. The large, framed piece showcasing a woman enjoying a cocktail felt like "literally the painting of my dreams." What made the painting even more incredible was the fact that it would fit perfectly into her 80s-style penthouse. Upon further inspection, Aubrey realized that the artwork was a real painting. However, she was unable to identify who the artist behind it was. 

Letting the internet do its thing

Unable to decipher the signature, Aubrey decided to upload the clip of the canvas on Instagram. She hoped that people would be able to help her out. Sure enough, she was right about it as comments flooded in, pointing out that the artwork belonged to New York-based artist Cordell Cordaro. Armed with this information, she immediately reached out to him and asked to confirm whether it was actually his painting. To her surprise, not only did Cordaro reply, but confirmed that the painting was indeed a piece he made. 

The real value

The confirmation came alongside genuine astonishment from both sides, with Cordaro noting that "they were both in shock that it was at the thrift." He revealed that the painting was roughly worth $2,500. He then explained to Aubrey that he no longer made pieces like this, as he'd retired the art style. In fact, this was one of the only remaining canvases from that era, with the other one being listed on his website for a whopping $10,000.

A one-of-a-kind commission

Blown away that this vintage work had been rescued from a thrift store, Codaro decided to reward Aubrey. He wanted to give her something in return "for saving his painting out of the thrift store." Without thinking twice, Aubrey said yes, and Codaro decided to make her a custom piece to go with the other painting. She submitted just two creative guidelines, requesting a "cool-toned background, whether it's green or blue," and having the subject drink a cocktail in the other way to match the other painting. Now, she awaits her custom artwork.

Secondhand goods are on the boom

This entire incident sheds light on the ongoing boom within the secondhand market. According to a ThreadUp survey, 50% of younger people have bought something from a thrift shop with the intention of sharing it online and selling it. Moreover, a striking 46% of consumers believe that if something is available secondhand, they'd avoid buying it brand new. This number jumps up to 55% when talking about the younger generation. It goes to show just how much people love thrifting in the modern era and why Aubrey was able to find the painting. 

'You make your own luck'

People also loved the entire interaction between Codaro and Aubrey. @mheath_15 commented, "Girlll!!! That’s amazing!! Literally looove that for you." At the same time, @original.jengels wrote, "You are my inspiration for 'you make your own luck.'"

Follow Aubrey (@fruity.housewife) for more thrifting content. 

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