Polish authorities have successfully recovered a collection of stolen artworks by some of the most celebrated contemporary artists, including Banksy and Damien Hirst, more than two years after their theft. The works, valued at over €175,000, had been missing since a burglary in 2022.
The collection, consisting of 10 paintings and one photograph, also included pieces by Linda McCartney and Shi Xinning. The theft occurred on March 24-25, 2022, in the southeastern Polish city of Przemyśl, while the artworks were being transported from Kyiv, Ukraine, to Switzerland.
A breakthrough in the case came on December 9, 2024, nearly three years after the crime. Speaking to Polish state news agency PAP, Malgorzata Taciuch-Kurasiewicz of the District Prosecutor’s Office in Przemyśl confirmed that the stolen artworks had been located and secured. Just two days later, on December 11, international experts authenticated the recovered pieces.
The investigation, led by the Polish-Ukrainian Joint Investigation Team under Eurojust, remains active. While authorities are withholding further details, no arrests have yet been made.
This recovery highlights the growing challenges faced by the art world in protecting valuable works, particularly during times of geopolitical instability. The return of these artworks is seen as a significant victory for cross-border collaboration in combating art theft.
As the investigation continues, questions remain about the individuals behind the heist and how the artworks were concealed for so long. The recovered pieces, now authenticated, will likely rejoin collections and exhibitions, bringing closure to an international effort to preserve cultural heritage.
