Two of Andy Warhol’s Reigning Queens stolen in Dutch gallery robbery; No known arrests

Two works made by famous artist Andy Warhol were stolen from the art gallery MPV Gallery on the Dorpsstraat in Oisterwijk. A huge explosion happened at the location at around 03:35 a.m. on Thursday, after which thieves tried to take four art pieces from the Reigning Queens series, a spokesperson from the gallery has said. In the end, they were only able to steal the portraits of the British Queen Elizabeth and Queen Margrethe of Denmark.

The art thieves smashed the glass from the frames and ripped the silkscreens out, the spokesperson shared. She believes that there is no way that they did this without severely damaging the art pieces. The portraits of Queen Beatrix and Queen Ntombi Twala have been recovered, both still in their frames.

“The series as a whole is very valuable,” the spokesperson said. The portraits that MPV Gallery had in stock have the same numbering, which, according to the spokeswoman, is unique. "A mortal shame" that the series has now been "torn apart", she thinks.

Due to the popularity of the screen prints, reselling will be difficult for the perpetrators, the spokeswoman added. "That is only possible on the black market."

The explosion also caused a lot of damage to the building. There is also damage to the neighboring buildings on the Dorpsstraat.

Police reported that the suspects fled the scene in a car. Detectives are conducting forensic investigations in and around the gallery on Friday. Witnesses and people with camera footage or information about the perpetrators are asked to come forward.