In a shocking incident, two notable artworks by renowned American artist Andy Warhol have been stolen in a brazen break-in at the MPV Gallery located in the North Brabant province of the Netherlands. The theft, which occurred overnight, involved four silkscreens from Warhol’s famed Reigning Queens series. According to gallery owner reports to Dutch broadcaster NOS, the thieves had initially seized all four works but abandoned two nearby during their escape.
The pieces taken include a portrayal of the late Queen Elizabeth II and another of Denmark’s former Queen Margrethe II, who stepped down earlier this year. Local law enforcement is currently investigating the incident, which appears to have involved some form of explosion that caused extensive damage not only to the gallery but also to the surrounding buildings. Witnesses suggest the criminals fled the scene in a vehicle.
The two abandoned artworks, which depict Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Queen Ntombi Tfwala of Eswatini, were reportedly left behind as they did not fit in the getaway car. The stolen pieces were being showcased at the gallery in anticipation of the upcoming PAN Amsterdam art fair later this month, where they were set to be sold as part of a collection. These artworks are among a series of 16 silk screens Warhol created in 1985, just two years before his death, making them particularly valuable. Two previous pieces featuring Queen Elizabeth II had fetched over £500,000 each at a Sotheby's auction in 2022, highlighting the high stakes of this art heist.
