Arts
“As much as I want people to have my artwork, I don’t want somebody going to jail because of it,” said Somerville artist Adam Leveille, who had a painting stolen.
A Somerville art exhibit was put on hold last week after two of the pieces on display were stolen — the work of a masked thief, according to one artist whose painting vanished overnight.
“It’s really disappointing,” said Somerville-based artist Adam Leveille. “I love that people want my work, and I want to make it as accessible as possible, so when I sell things, I try and sell things for not crazy amounts of money so that people can buy them.”
A plein air painter, his work often showcases scenes from around Greater Boston, particularly Somerville.
“I love the city, and I love kind of documenting all of these areas that are changing, especially in Union Square, where I might paint something one week and then go back the next week and it’s just gone,” Leveille said.
That includes the former Nissenbaum’s Auto Recycling Center, a local institution that closed its doors a couple years back after more than a century in business. Last fall, Leveille’s oil painting “Nissenbaum, midday” was selected for Somerville Open Studios’ “Visions of Somerville” show, the inaugural exhibit in a new gallery space at 50 Prospect St. in Union Square.
According to Somerville Open Studios, the show opened in December and featured juried works from 18 SOS artists. An artists’ reception was scheduled for Jan. 12, but organizers learned days before that two paintings had been stolen the weekend prior.
“The space was accessible 24/7, with security personnel on duty and other measures in place,” the Somerville Open Studios Board said in a statement.
Somerville Police Administrative Captain Jeffrey DiGregorio confirmed police are looking into the incident, which happened around 2:50 a.m. Jan. 5.
“I can confirm that we are aware of this incident and it has been assigned to a detective for investigation,” DiGregorio said in an email. He was unable to provide further details, citing the open investigation.
Leveille said he learned security footage showed a masked figure walking into the exhibit through a side entrance, though he hasn’t seen the video firsthand. The person allegedly beelined for Leveille’s painting and another piece, cut the wires hanging them, and made off with the art.
Exhibit organizers moved the remaining art to locked storage as soon as they learned of the theft and are now “working towards a solution to reinstall the show,” the Somerville Open Studios Board said.
“We were saddened and shocked to learn that such an incident took place, but it does not change our determination to continue to give local artists opportunities to exhibit their work,” the board added.
Leveille is also hopeful Somerville Open Studios can find a way to bring the show back.
“I saw some of the artwork, and I know some of the artists that are in it, and they’re all really talented people, and they’re all showing off the city that they love. It’s just kind of a middle finger to do that, and then have somebody turn around and say, ‘No, we’re not going to let this happen,’” he said, referring to the theft.
Leveille posted about the stolen paintings on social media last week and received hundreds of comments expressing both support and outrage on his behalf.
“To see something bad happen — whether it’s to me or to anybody else — and to see so much support coming back from the community is really heartwarming, and it does kind of counteract the bitterness of … some asshole coming in and just being a social miscreant,” he said.
Leveille also appealed to the thief for the paintings’ return.
“As much as I want people to have my artwork, I don’t want somebody going to jail because of it,” he said. “And as soon as these come back, the community can kind of move on and start the celebration of the community again.”
Boston.com Today
Sign up to receive the latest headlines in your inbox each morning.
