Two Works Stolen from Jonathan LeVine Gallery

NEW YORK—Jonathan LeVine Gallery has announced that two artworks were stolen from a recent exhibition of drawings by Lori Earley.

The first, an untitled work measuring 8 by 10 inches, was taken from the Chelsea gallery at about 5 p.m. on the evening of Wednesday, February 27, days after the show opened. After the theft, the gallery secured the remaining works to the walls with wire. The second, Awaiting, a 16-by-12-inch drawing, was taken on Saturday, March 8, at around 5:30 p.m., as the gallery was getting ready to close. Both were ornately framed. A gallery assistant commented that the second theft may have been committed by two people — one who distracted gallery staff and a second who cut the work (located in another room) from the wall with wirecutters.

Police have a description of the first robber: According to the gallery, he is a "white male, approximately 6’2’’ tall, in his mid-to-late thirties. He was seen wearing a blue baseball cap and a navy blue backpack, and spoke with a heavy New York accent."

"Fade to Gray," Earley's fourth solo show at the gallery, closed on schedule on March 22. "I wanted to create a special installation for my New York show and present a visually stunning wintry wonderland experience, a fairytale atmosphere," said the New York–based artist. "To have my show picked apart and incomplete is devastating.”