50k Reward: Search for the Disappeared Masterpieces by Renowned Artist Orlik

Henry Orlik, a re-discovered surrealist artist known for his large-scale canvases depicting royalty and iconic figures like Marilyn Monroe, has made headlines once again with the loss of dozens of his valuable works. An exhibition held in London last August saw many pieces sell quickly at high prices, reaching tens of thousands of pounds.

In an effort to locate these missing artworks, Orlik’s family friend Jan Pietruszka is offering a 50,000 reward for their recovery. The artist himself is currently residing in his childhood home in Swindon after being evicted from his social housing apartment in London during a stroke recovery period last year. As many as 90 pieces of art are believed to have disappeared at that time.

Orlik, now 78 years old and suffering declining health, remains deeply distressed about the loss of his work. Family friend Pietruszka described Orlik’s current state: “Hes getting weaker all the time. His health situation is deteriorating. Hes quite depressed that were not making great progress in finding these paintings.”

Despite selling over 1.6 million worth of artworks from two recent exhibitions, Orlik maintains a humble stance regarding his achievements and earnings. According to Pietruszka, when the subject turns to money or recognition for his work, “Hes very deprecating about it,” always returning to the primary concern of recovering his lost pieces.

Art dealer Grant Ford, who has been organizing exhibitions featuring Orlik’s works in both London and Marlborough galleries, recognizes him as one of our greats. “As a specialist with three decades at Sothebys, Ive never come across an artist quite like this,” said Ford. He added that if Orlik hadnt turned his back on the commercial art world in the 1970s, he likely would have been considered a household name.

With interest in Orlik’s work coming from all over the globe, including buyers from the United States and China, Mr. Ford emphasizes that this is a critical time for locating missing pieces before his health deteriorates further. “Now is a crucial moment,” he stated. “We need to find these paintings as quickly as possible.”

Orlik’s unique artistic style includes an unusual technique called “excitations,” where pictures are composed using intricate, precise squiggles rather than traditional brushstrokes. This method has made his work recognizable even when unsigned.

In an upcoming exhibition in New York this year, the spotlight will shine on Orliks contributions to the art world during a period of his life spent there in the 1970s alongside other renowned artists such as Salvador Dali and Jackson Pollock. As with previous exhibitions, Mr. Ford remains determined to not only find these lost artworks but also bring more attention to Henry Orlik’s remarkable talent.

Anyone who has information about the whereabouts of any missing works by Henry Orlik is encouraged to contact Winsor Birch gallery for a chance at claiming the substantial reward offered.