Mysterious Disappearance of 78 Paintings Puts Spotlight on Solitary Artist Henry Orlik

A mysterious situation has emerged in the art world concerning 77-year-old artist Henry Orlik from Swindon, who has lost 78 of his paintings. Once celebrated for exhibiting alongside well-known artists like Salvador Dalí in the 1970s, Orlik’s life took a difficult turn after he suffered a stroke in December 2022. 

Orlik, a 1970s pioneer

Orlik's was trained at Swindon College of Art and Cheltenham School of Art, gaining recognition in the 1970s for his unique style, described as "quantum art." His paintings are characterized by precise details and tiny squiggles called "excitations," which he uses to create depth and color. 

The circumstances surrounding the missing paintings raise many concerns. While Orlik was in the hospital, he was evicted from his housing association flat in London, where many of his works were stored. 

The flat's contents were cleared, but the whereabouts of the paintings remain unknown. This uncertainty complicates the assessment of the remaining pieces, making it difficult to understand the full scope of what has been lost. 

Jan Pietruska, Orlik's childhood friend, has taken on the task of cataloging and exhibiting the remaining artworks.He organized exhibitions that have seen significant success; for instance, about 30 pieces sold for £400,000 at a recent show in London. 

The second exhibition at ‘The Little Gallery’ in Marlborough attracted online bidders who offered tens of thousands of pounds for Orlik's work. 

Art enthusiast poses with a piece of contemporary artwork 

One buyer, James Clifford, who runs a logistics company but is an avid art fan, rushed to the gallery after reading about Orlik in an art update email. Despite arriving early, he found the ground floor already filled with sold labels, describing it as a "sea of red dots." 

Grant Ford, an art dealer who has recently taken an interest in Orlik's work, stated, “This artist, who I really didn't know about a few months ago, should be considered one of our greats.” He emphasized the exceptional quality of Orlik's art, saying, “I just haven't seen anything like this before. I think they're just mind-bogglingly good.” 

Ford reported, noting that some paintings sold for between £5,000 and £40,000. 

The recent exhibitions have reignited interest in Orlik's art, which has been described as "dream-like" and exceptional. However, the continued search for the missing artist's paintings remains a crucial part of preserving Orlik's legacy.