
Reenactments of alleged suspects, still from The Thief Collector, 2022
Special Screening: The Thief Collector
GETTY CENTER
Harold M. Williams Auditorium
This is a past event
In 1985, Willem de Kooning’s Woman-Ochre, one of the most valuable paintings of the 20th century, vanished after being cut from its frame at the University of Arizona Museum of Art. Over 30 years later, the $160 million painting was found hanging in the home of Jerry and Rita Alter in rural New Mexico. The Thief Collector takes a deep look at how, and why, this mild-mannered couple pulled off one of the greatest art heists of a generation. After the screening the film's director, Allison Otto, joins Getty conservators for a conversation and audience Q&A. The program is followed by an outdoor hosted reception.
Running time: 94 minutes
Complements the exhibition Conserving de Kooning: Theft and Recovery.
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