2 Andy Warhol prints stolen from Dutch Gallery
The Hague, Netherlands – Thieves targeted an art gallery in the southern Netherlands, attempting to steal four works from Andy Warhol’s famous “Reigning Queens” series. The heist, which took place at the MPV Gallery in Oisterwijk, was captured on security cameras and described as “amateurish” by gallery owner Mark Peet Visser.
The thieves managed to blow open the gallery door in a violent manner, causing significant damage to the building and nearby stores. However, their escape plan hit a snag when they realized that the stolen artworks would not fit in their car. In a rush, they tore the prints out of their frames, rendering them irreparably damaged.
Among the stolen pieces were portraits of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Margrethe II of Denmark. The prints of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Ntombi Tfwala, the queen mother of Eswatini, were left behind on the street as the thieves made their escape.
Visser, who had planned to offer the works for sale as a set at an upcoming art fair in Amsterdam, declined to disclose the value of the stolen pieces. The police have launched an investigation into the heist and are appealing for witnesses to come forward. Forensic experts are currently examining the extent of the damage at the gallery.
The botched heist has not only resulted in the loss of valuable artwork but also left a trail of destruction in its wake. The brazen attempt to steal the iconic Warhol prints has shocked the local art community and raised concerns about the security of galleries and art collections in the region.
