Warhol Heist: Two Iconic Paintings Stolen in Dutch Gallery Break-In

The MPV Gallery in North Brabant, Netherlands, was the scene of a daring theft where two silkscreens from Warhol's Reigning Queens series were stolen, sparking a police investigation into the significant damage caused.

In a shocking incident that has sent ripples through the art world, two artworks by renowned American artist Andy Warhol were stolen during an overnight break-in at the MPV Gallery located in the North Brabant province of the Netherlands. The incident, which occurred late at night, involved thieves initially taking four silkscreens from Warhol's famed Reigning Queens series but abandoning two nearby, as reported by the gallery owner to Dutch broadcaster NOS.

The artworks taken include a representation of the late Queen Elizabeth II and another of Margrethe II, who abdicated as the Queen of Denmark earlier this year. According to local police investigating the case, there appeared to be some form of explosion involved in the break-in, which caused extensive damage to both the gallery and surrounding structures. Reports suggest that the thieves managed to escape the scene in a vehicle.

NOS also revealed that the remaining two prints from the series, which depicted Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Queen Ntombi Tfwala of Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland), were left behind as they did not fit into the criminals' getaway car. The stolen works were being preserved at the gallery in preparation for the upcoming PAN Amsterdam art fair, where they were to be sold as a complete set.

These artworks are part of a limited series of 16 silk screens that Warhol created in 1985, just two years before his passing, focusing on the lives of four queens. Notably, two pieces featuring Queen Elizabeth II fetched over £500,000 each at a Sotheby's auction in 2022, signaling the high-value nature of the stolen works. As police continue their investigation, the art community remains on high alert for these iconic pieces.