Late on Sunday night, London’s Grove Gallery on New Cavendish Street experienced a break-in, with the burglars making off with a lone item: Banksy’s popular piece ‘Girl with Balloon.’ Given the prominence of the street artist, the Metropolitan Police quickly launched an investigation into what appeared to be a brazen theft.
Fortunately, it didn’t take long for them to recover the artwork and make two arrests. The two men charged in connection with the crime appeared in court yesterday.
Media outlets have reported on the likely value of the artwork, which is difficult to estimate given the secretive nature of the art world’s sales. However, it’s safe to say that Banksy’s works are a hot commodity and any theft of them is not just criminal but highly disruptive to the art market.
Art theft is nothing new in London where there’s a long history of artists and galleries targeted by criminals, but the rush to acquire art from the biggest names in the business means it’s likely to continue. This is where the art world requires stricter security measures to protect its valuable assets. However, it’s a risk that both artists and buyers are willing to take to own something truly unique
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
