Stolen art prints by artist Hackney STIK recovered
Published:
12:41 PM November 16, 2020
Update:
8:26 PM November 27, 2020
Artwork stolen from Hackney residents has been returned after a police appeal.
The stolen art prints were available in several colors, including teal, yellow, orange and red. Image: Todd-White Fine Art Photography
– Credit: Todd-White Art Photography
Artwork stolen from Hackney residents has been returned after a police appeal.
Hackney-based artist Stik has produced 100,000 prints of his artwork Holding Hands, which features two stick figures holding hands and now stands as a sculpture in Hoxton Square.
The 50cm x 50cm prints were created for people living in the borough as a sign of kindness during the coronavirus pandemic and the artist’s intention was to provide every household with a copy of the poster as a gift to keep or sell.
READ MORE: Stik’s Hoxton Square ‘Holding Hands’ sculpture unveiled
Thousands of fingerprints have now been returned through investigation and a police appeal and are being returned to their rightful recipients. Image: Todd-White Fine Art Photography
– Credit: Todd-White Art Photography
However, while some households received their copy, many others did not. This led to a police investigation and an appeal requesting the safe return of the artwork on October 26.
READ MORE: Stolen: Thousands of prints by street artist Stik intended as a ‘gift for residents of Hackney’ are being sold online instead
Since the appeal, approximately 4,000 prints have been returned to the artist and an additional 1,000 prints were returned before the appeal was filed.
Stik said, “Holding Hands shows two people looking in opposite directions while holding hands in a symbol of universal love and togetherness.
The prints feature an artwork by STIK which was installed, with the help of Hackney Council, as a sculpture in Hoxton Square in September 2020. Photo: Todd-White Art Photography
– Credit: Todd-White Art Photography
“The fact that so many prints have been returned to the people of Hackney only amplifies its significance.”
The prints were to be distributed by council publication Hackney Today and delivered to the distributor on September 19.
READ MORE: Hackney Street artist Stik to ’empower’ local artists by funding series of sculptures
Det Con James Readman said: ‘It’s really heartening that the public listened to our plea and did the right thing by returning a large portion of the prints.
Hopefully they were struck by the fact that Stik was doing something really nice for his fellow Hackney people – funded out of his own pocket – because he wanted to put a smile on people’s faces, in what has been an incredibly difficult for most.
“Unfortunately, some people saw an opportunity to make money and took it.
“But we are pleased with the response and understand that Stik has begun the process of distributing impressions to legitimate recipients.”
Stik recently sold a Holding Hands model for a quarter of a million pounds, which will be donated to a new Hackney arts scheme.
Anyone with information that could help the police is asked to call 101 with reference CRIS 4626404/20.
You can also tweet @MetCC or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
READ MORE: Hackney artist raises over £250,000 for new arts program
