thegivinggallery.art

ART ABANDONMENT

Gift-wrapped artworks left in public places for unknown recipients.

Art Abandonment is separate from The Giving Gallery. Josh Stein gift-wraps individual panel works and leaves them in public locations to be found. The project began on September 7, 2026, and continues through new placements.

What is documented

  • Photographs of the work, wrapping, and placement
  • Date and time
  • Location and geographic coordinates
  • The work placed

Archive

Date and timeLocation and coordinatesPiece
September 7, 2026, 2:34 p.m.40.778686, -124.161127#476 Matrix Sprites II
September 7, 2026, 2:47 p.m.40.803314, -124.169624#484 The Four Elements XLI
September 9, 2026, 9:25 a.m.40.780968, -124.149400Art Abandonment #3 (pictured below)
September 9, 2026, 9:34 a.m.40.800633, -124.148337Art Abandonment #4 (pictured below)

Art Abandonment #1: #476 Matrix Sprites II

Front of artwork #476, Matrix Sprites II
Gift-wrapped artwork #476, Matrix Sprites II, before placement
Gift-wrapped artwork #476 placed near a community food box

Art Abandonment #2: #484 The Four Elements XLI

Front of artwork #484, The Four Elements XLI
Gift-wrapped artwork #484, The Four Elements XLI, before placement
Gift-wrapped artwork #484 placed beside purple flowers and a wooden fence

Art Abandonments #3 and #4

Front view of the artwork left in Art Abandonment #3
Gift-wrapped artwork placed beside the Helen memorial bench in Eureka
Front view of the artwork left in Art Abandonment #4
Gift-wrapped artwork placed outside the Dr. Samuel P. Burre Center in Eureka

Reactions

“It is gorgeous and we love it, and we will be hanging it in our living room. What a pleasant surprise and what a neat way to spread art throughout the world. Thank you so much!”

— DR, recipient of #476 Matrix Sprites II