Rediscovered Surrealist Artist Henry Orlik Says Missing Paintings Leave Him Feeling “Violated”
Surrealist artist Henry Orlik, 78, has expressed profound distress over the disappearance of dozens of his paintings, which vanished after his eviction from a London social housing flat in 2022.
Now residing in his childhood home in Swindon, Orlik has seen his work experience a resurgence in recent years, with sales exceeding £2 million in exhibitions across London, New York, and Wiltshire. The renewed attention to his art comes after decades of relative seclusion, following initial fame in the 1970s. Orlik described the feeling of discovering the paintings were gone as deeply personal, stating, “you feel violated… I feel physically sick.”
The missing collection includes depictions of iconic figures like Marilyn Monroe and a cowboy, with some pieces taking months to complete using Orlik’s signature technique of tiny brushstrokes and “excitations.” Art dealer Grant Ford, who has listed the missing works on his website, called some of the paintings “iconic.” Orlik has offered a £50,000 reward for their return, emphasizing the emotional weight of the lost artwork: “The titles aren’t important, but I remember them… There’s meaning behind an image. That’s why I painted it, there’s a reason.” You can learn more about surrealism and its impact on modern art.
A re-count suggests the number of missing artworks is significantly higher than initially estimated at 78. Orlik currently has his first solo exhibition in a publicly funded gallery, Museum and Art Swindon, with loaned pieces from private collectors like Helen Michael, who described his work as “very emotional.” The loss of these paintings represents a significant blow to the artist and a potential loss to the art world, as his unique style has garnered increasing recognition. For more information on art recovery efforts, visit the Art Recovery International website.
Authorities continue to investigate the disappearance of the paintings, and Orlik remains hopeful for their recovery.
