Andy Warhol Artworks Stolen in Brazen Dutch Gallery Heist

Thieves stole two silkscreens from Andy Warhol’s Reigning Queens series, featuring Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Margrethe II, during a night raid at the MPV Gallery. The stolen artworks were intended for an upcoming art fair and are part of a significant artistic collection.

In a shocking incident, two valuable artworks by the renowned American artist Andy Warhol were stolen during a break-in at the MPV Gallery located in North Brabant, Netherlands. The brazen heist occurred overnight, with the thieves initially taking four silkscreens from Warhol's famed Reigning Queens series but abandoning two prints nearby, according to information gathered by Dutch broadcaster NOS.

The artworks in question include striking representations of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who recently abdicated. Local authorities are currently investigating the incident, as initial reports suggest the presence of an explosion, causing extensive damage to both the gallery and adjacent structures. Eyewitness accounts indicate the culprits fled the scene in a car.

The remaining two prints from the series, which portray Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Queen Ntombi Tfwala of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), were left behind, reportedly due to space constraints in the getaway vehicle. The stolen artworks were secured at the gallery in preparation for the upcoming PAN Amsterdam art fair, where they were slated to be featured for sale as a complete set.

This series of silk screens is part of a 16-piece collection that Warhol created in 1985, just two years before his passing. Notably, prints of Queen Elizabeth II from this series garnered significant amounts at auction, with two pieces fetching over £500,000 each at Sotheby’s in 2022, underscoring the artworks' financial and historical significance.