Two Warhol Silkscreens Stolen in Dutch Gallery Heist

Two iconic artwork silkscreens by famed American artist Andy Warhol have been stolen during a daring overnight break-in at an art gallery in the Netherlands.

The theft occurred at the MPV Gallery in North Brabant province. Galley owner shared with Dutch broadcaster NOS that the thieves made off with two portraits from Warhol’s “Reigning Queens” series: one of the late Queen Elizabeth II and another of Margrethe II, the former Queen of Denmark.

Explosions and Uproar amid the Heist

Local police, currently investigating the incident, reported signs of an explosion at the scene. The gallery and surrounding buildings sustained considerable damage. Witnesses described the suspects fleeing the scene in a waiting car.

Intriguingly, two other silkscreens in the “Reigning Queens” series, depicting Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Queen Ntombi Tfwala of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), were found abandoned near the scene. The owner reported that the thieves were unable to fit all four artworks into their getaway vehicle.

Targeted for the Art Fair

The stolen works were being held at the gallery in preparation for the PAN Amsterdam art fair. The artworks were slated to be displayed as a set at the prominent event scheduled for later this month.

The missing silkscreens belong to a series of 16 portraits of the four queens, created by Warhol in 1985, two years before his untimely death. Warhol is widely recognized as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century.

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