Art Heist in the Netherlands: Warhol's Iconic Silkscreens Stolen

In a shocking overnight heist, four silkscreens from Andy Warhol's Reigning Queens series were stolen from a gallery in the Netherlands. The theft is under investigation by local police, who reported that an explosion likely occurred during the break-in.

In a brazen overnight burglary, two remarkable artworks by legendary American artist Andy Warhol were stolen from the MPV Gallery located in North Brabant, the Netherlands. Initially, the thieves purloined four silkscreens from Warhol's celebrated Reigning Queens series, but were only able to escape with two, leaving the others behind nearby, as reported by the gallery owner to Dutch broadcaster NOS.

Among the stolen pieces are portraits of the late Queen Elizabeth II and the recently abdicated Danish monarch Margrethe II. Local police have launched an investigation into the incident, which they suspect involved some form of explosion, resulting in extensive damage to both the gallery and surrounding structures. Eyewitness accounts indicate that the criminals fled the scene in a vehicle.

The artworks were being showcased at the gallery in anticipation of the PAN Amsterdam art fair, where they were scheduled to be sold as a collective set. These pieces are part of a limited series of 16 silkscreens that Warhol created in 1985, two years prior to his death, and are recognized as iconic representations of royal figures.

Two additional prints from the series, featuring Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Queen Ntombi Tfwala of Eswatini, were discarded by the thieves, reportedly due to space constraints in the getaway car. The stolen portraits of Queen Elizabeth II have commanded substantial sums at auction, with individual pieces fetching over £500,000 at Sotheby’s in 2022. The ongoing investigation raises questions about the security of high-value art and the prevention of similar criminal activities.