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An independent investigation had been launched when a copy of a screen printing of the American artist representing Beatrix, queen mother of the Netherlands, had been lost during the renovations of the town hall of Uden in 2024.
A work by Andy Warhol who disappeared in a commune in the south-east of the Netherlands at the end of 2024 was probably thrown in the trash, the municipality said on Thursday, April 24, in a statement relaying the results of an independent investigation. The artist’s work disappeared at the end of 2024 during the renovations of the town hall in the town of Uden.
“It is very likely that the missing works of art of the municipality were accidentally thrown with bulky waste,” said the municipality of Maashorst (Brabant-Septentrional). The municipality indicated that it has commissioned the External Research Agency Bing between November 2024 and March 2025 to investigate the disappearance of several works of art, including a copy of a serigraphy of Andy Warhol representing Beatrix, Queen Mother of the Netherlands.
“There were no procedures established around the renovation”
“The investigation consisted mainly in interviews with officials and administrators involved,” said the municipality. Bing concluded that shortcomings were the source of the disappearance. “For example, the property has not been properly allocated, there have been no policies and procedures established around the renovation, and there was no rapid action when works of art proved to be missing.”
“There were also no guidelines for recording, storage, conservation and safety of works,” the survey revealed. At the end of his life, Andy Warhol produced two editions of this series representing four queens, including Beatrix. A normal edition of 40 copies and a “royal edition” of lithographs with a sparkling effect.
