Two artworks by American artist Andy Warhol were stolen during an overnight break-in at the MPV Gallery in North Brabant, Netherlands.
The theft occurred when thieves initially took four silkscreens from Warhol’s Reigning Queens series but later abandoned two of them nearby, according to the gallery owner speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS. The stolen pieces feature the late Queen Elizabeth II and Margrethe II, the former Queen of Denmark.
Local police noted signs of an explosion at the scene, resulting in significant damage to the gallery and nearby buildings. The suspects reportedly fled in a car.
The two discarded prints depicted Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Queen Ntombi Tfwala of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), which were left behind due to space constraints in the vehicle.
These artworks were being stored at the gallery ahead of the upcoming PAN Amsterdam art fair, where they were set to be sold as a collection. The works are part of a series of 16 silk screens Warhol created in 1985, two years before his passing, celebrating the four queens.
Credit: BBC News
