A Brisbane man who suspected his wife's inherited painting might be the work of celebrated Australian artist Lloyd Rees has successfully used artificial intelligence to help confirm the artwork's authenticity. Davin Grikis, a recruitment specialist living on Brisbane's southside, turned to modern technology after becoming fascinated with a mysterious painting his wife Holly had inherited from her father.
Grikis, who describes himself as neither an art collector nor expert, found himself with time on his hands in July when he was between jobs. Rather than letting the painting continue to hang unidentified, he decided to channel his energy into solving the mystery surrounding the artwork. "I deep-dove into it, probably more for my own curiosity than anything else," Grikis explained. "I got a bit obsessed, to tell you the truth."
The painting in question appears to be approximately 100 years old and may depict a scene that holds historical significance, though the exact subject matter remained part of the mystery Grikis was determined to solve. Lloyd Rees, the artist whose work Grikis suspected he possessed, was a prominent Australian landscape painter known for his distinctive style and significant contributions to the country's art scene.
Using artificial intelligence tools, Grikis was able to analyze various aspects of the painting, from brushwork techniques to compositional elements that could be compared against known works by Lloyd Rees. The AI assistance proved instrumental in providing the confirmation he had been seeking about the painting's origins and authenticity.
The discovery highlights how modern technology is revolutionizing the way people can authenticate and research artwork, making expertise that was once available only to professional art historians and appraisers accessible to ordinary individuals. For Grikis and his wife Holly, what began as casual curiosity about a family heirloom has turned into the exciting realization that they may possess a valuable piece of Australian art history.
