Picasso Artwork Stolen from Art Miami Fair
A silver plate designed by famous Spanish artist Pablo Picasso was stolen from Art Miami in Midtown.
The annual art fair surrounding Art Basel Miami Beach has attracted many collectors, enthusiasts and gawkers to South Florida.
According to Miami Herald, an unidentified burglar or a group of burglars stole a silver plate crafted by Picasso sometime between Thursday night and Friday morning.
The owner of the plate, David Smith, who also owns the Amsterdam-based Leslie Smith Gllery said that he informed the police after he found the plate holder empty Friday morning. He last saw the artwork hanging on the wall Thursday night.
I've been doing art shows all my life. Even when I was a kid, I went with my parents," said Smith, 45. "I've never, ever had anything stolen."
The item was a 1956 piece, known as Visage aux Mains(Face with Hands). The silver plate was 16.5 inches wide which had an engraved smiling face and stick-finger hands.
According to NBC News, the plate is worth around $85,000. The item is No. 16 in a 20-plate series, Smith added.
"There is no video surveillance or witnesses to this incident," said Det. Frederica Burden, a police spokeswoman.
Police have taken fingerprints and are investigating the matter.
Adding to this, another artwork was accidentally damaged during a party Thursday night at the Perez Art Museum in Miami.
Art Miami is considered to be the biggest satellite fair as part of Art Basel. According to reports, last year more than 75,000 people had attended the fest over a period of six days that is dubbed as Art Week.
