Stolen Warhol Paintings Spark Investigation After Dutch Gallery Heist

In a shocking turn of events, two iconic silkcreens by famed artist Andy Warhol were stolen from the MPV Gallery in North Brabant, Netherlands, during a bold heist early Thursday. The artworks, created in Warhol’s Reigning Queens series, portray the late Queen Elizabeth II and Margrethe II, who abdicated the Danish throne earlier this year.

The incident unfolded as thieves initially made off with four silkscreens but abandoned two nearby, as reported by the gallery owner to Dutch broadcaster NOS. Local authorities are actively investigating and suspect that an explosion was involved, resulting in significant damage to the gallery and adjacent structures. The suspects were seen fleeing the scene in a vehicle.

The stolen artworks were scheduled to be showcased at the upcoming PAN Amsterdam art fair. This series consists of 16 silk screens depicting four queens, produced by Warhol in 1985, just two years before his passing. The gallery reported that works featuring Queen Elizabeth II sold for upwards of £500,000 each at Sotheby’s auction house last year. Interestingly, the two prints depicting Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Queen Ntombi Tfwala of Eswatini were left behind, allegedly due to space constraints in the thieves’ escape vehicle. The art community watches closely as the investigation unfolds and hopes for a swift recovery of these valuable pieces.