Renowned artist Henry Orlik, 78, of Swindon, is offering a £50,000 reward for the return of numerous pieces of his artwork that have gone missing. Orlik, known for his surrealist creations, has garnered £1.6m in sales over the past year from just two exhibitions. Despite having his work showcased alongside icons like Salvador Dali in the 1970s, Orlik retreated from the art scene many years ago and is currently in declining health.
Following his eviction from social housing in London while he was recuperating from a stroke in 2022, a significant amount of Orlik’s possessions, including a substantial portion of his artwork, went missing. Efforts are now underway to locate these missing pieces, as Orlik, now residing in his childhood home in Swindon, is eager to have them returned. Close family friend Jan Pietruszka is leading the search, expressing Orlik’s urgency to recover the art that was lost during his eviction.
With over 90 artworks – potentially hundreds – unaccounted for, the reward is being offered for the safe return of all pieces. Notably, some of the missing pieces are large in size, including life-sized artworks and interpretations of Marilyn Monroe. Despite challenges such as the works not being signed, Orlik’s unique artistic techniques, such as his “excitations” method, provide distinctive identifying features.
Grant Ford, an art dealer and gallery owner, has been assisting in organizing exhibitions of Orlik’s work. Ford, impressed by the artist’s exceptional talent, believes Orlik should be recognized as one of the greats in the art world. Urgency surrounds the search for the missing works as Orlik’s health continues to decline.
Interest in Orlik’s art has spread globally, with exhibitions planned in New York this year to showcase his extraordinary talent. The ongoing search for the missing artworks remains a top priority, emphasizing Orlik’s desire to have his creations returned safely.
In the pursuit of lost art, the stakes are high as some pieces fetch over £40,000. Mr. Ford and Mr. Pietruszka are on a mission to recover the majority of the vanished artworks, not settling for just a few scattered pieces. If you hold the key to their whereabouts, Winsor Birch gallery is calling for you to step forward. Stay updated with the latest developments by connecting with BBC Wiltshire on Facebook and Instagram. Got a lead to share? Reach out to us via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Your contribution could be the missing piece in this intriguing puzzle.
