Thursday, July 14, 2011

Stolen Art Watch, Picasso, Leger, Mi Yim, Case Solved, Next Case Please


REVEALED: List of artwork found in Picasso theft suspect's New Jersey apartment

When police raided the New Jersey apartment of alleged Picasso theft suspect Mark Lugo on Tuesday, they said more stolen artwork was found, including another Picasso.

New York police have now released the full list of stolen artworks found. The items were taken from several Manhattan hotels and galleries between June 6 and July 1, according to NYPD spokesman Lt. John Grimpel.

  • Robert Pugliese artwork stolen from the OK Harris Gallery on June 6.
  • Five Mie Yim paintings stolen from the Chambers Hotel on June 14.
  • Nara Yoshitomo artwork stolen from the Opera Gallery on June 16.
  • Jean-Michel Basquiat artwork stolen from the Skot Foreman Fine Art Gallery on June 21.
  • Pablo Picasso sketch stolen from the William Bennett Gallery on June 27.
  • Fernand Leger sketch stolen from the Carlyle Hotel on June 28.
  • Malik Sidibe photograph stolen from the Jack Shainman Gallery on July 1.

Hoboken police have said the artworks were worth an estimated $500,000 total, including $350,000 for the Picasso.

Reached by phone late Thursday, Ansell Hawkins, general manager of the midtown Chambers Hotel, was shocked and ecstatic to hear the Mie Yim paintings had been recovered.

“This is amazing…totally amazing,” Hawkins said. “I am astounded. I am relieved. It’s an extraordinary turn of events.”

Hawkins said he’s a friend of the artist and couldn’t wait to let her know.

“She will be thrilled,” he said.

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