In newly uncovered audio interviews, legendary British artist LS Lowry expressed his belief that his paintings would be deemed worthless after his passing. Despite experiencing a degree of success later in life, including the sale of his notable 1953 painting, 'Going to the Match', for £7.8 million in 2022, Lowry maintained a sense of humility regarding his artistic contributions. His introspective nature often led him to dismiss the possibility that his works would attain the status and financial value they have today.

The context of Lowry's perspective is further explored in an upcoming BBC documentary titled 'LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes', in which Sir Ian McKellen will portray Lowry and lip-sync the dialogue from these recordings. The documentary aims to shed light on the artist's thoughts and feelings, presenting what has been described as the 'last words of a great artist'. This portrayal is not only significant for art enthusiasts but also serves to reconstruct the legacy of Lowry, who is now celebrated as one of Britain’s most beloved figures in the art community.

The tapes reveal Lowry's poignant anticipation of his work's fate, reflecting on a future where his art might be disregarded and sold for a mere pittance, as evidenced in his quote about potentially finding his painting in a junk shop. His belief contrasts starkly with the current reality of his status as a leading figure in British art, highlighting a profound disconnect between an artist's self-perception and the public's valuation of their work in contemporary culture.