The Harwood Museum of Art in Taos is investigating whether two paintings found in a New Mexico estate are the same ones stolen from a museum in 1985. The potential link was discovered by a true-crime writer who recently wrote about the de Kooning theft.
Willem de Kooning’s “ Woman-Ochre ” was stolen from the University of Arizona Museum of Art in 1985. After being missing for decades, it was found in 2017, by then valued at more than $100 million. But it wasn’t the only painting found in the New Mexico estate of Jerry and Rita Alter, a seemingly ordinary retired couple, who may have stolen it. There were at least two other valuable paintings in their estate by famous Western artists.
Works by artists Joseph Henry Sharp and Victor Higgins were unknowingly donated after the Alters’ death to a non-profit and auctioned off in 2018. Now the Harwood Museum of Art in Taos is looking into whether those two paintings are the same ones stolen from that museum in 1985. The potential link was first discovered by Lou Schachter, a true-crime and travel writer for the online publication Medium. He recently wrote a three-part series about the de Kooning theft, unearthing a potentially stunning discovery. As part of his research, he watched a 2022 documentary on the de Kooning theft, called The Thief Collecto
Willem De Kooning Woman-Ochre Stolen Painting University Of Arizona Museum Of Art New Mexico Estate Jerry And Rita Alter Joseph Henry Sharp Victor Higgins Harwood Museum Of Art Taos True-Crime Writer
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