Oscar Murillo's floor canvas temporarily vanishes from MoMA exhibition
On Friday 6 March, a visitor removed Oscar Murillo's artwork 1/2s (Lessons in Aesthetics and Productivity) from The Forever Now: Contemporary Painting in an Atemporal World exhibition at MoMA. The piece, one of eight unstretched canvases by the Colombian artist displayed on the floor for handling, was quickly recovered after security identified the individual. Museum spokeswoman Margaret Doyle stated that appropriate security measures would be maintained for the show's duration, which runs through April 5. The incident was not classified as theft, and the visitor's identity remains undisclosed. The New York Times reported the disappearance, noting the work's safe return.
Key facts
- Oscar Murillo's artwork 1/2s (Lessons in Aesthetics and Productivity) disappeared from MoMA on Friday 6 March
- The work is part of a series of eight unstretched canvases displayed on the floor for visitor handling
- Security helped identify the visitor responsible, leading to the work's safe return
- Museum spokeswoman Margaret Doyle assured appropriate security for the exhibition's remainder
- The incident was not registered as art theft
- The visitor's identity was not disclosed
- The exhibition The Forever Now: Contemporary Painting in an Atemporal World runs through April 5
- The New York Times reported the event
Entities
Artists
- Oscar Murillo
Institutions
- MoMA
- The New York Times
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Colombia