Artist's stolen mural turns up in gallery after nine years

Nigel Brown painted the panel in 1996. Picture / Martin Sykes

A large mural that was stolen from the Auckland Town Hall nine years ago has surfaced in a Parnell art gallery.

The mural vanished in October 1996 soon after it was painted on a 2.5m panel, for the security fence put round the town hall during its restoration.

The artist, Nigel Brown, said yesterday he was shocked when Ferner Galleries wrote to him saying they had the signed and dated artwork under consideration for their mid-year catalogue show.

"I told the gallery it was a stolen artwork," said Brown, who now lives in Southland.

"The work was done for the town hall restoration project on a hoarding and was removed in the night before it could be auctioned to raise funds to buy art works for the town hall.

"At the time we thought it was a student prank.

"A sign was put up asking for return of the work and that was stolen as well.

"I'm keen to try and trace the culprits, who I realise may not necessarily be the seller to the gallery."

Ferner Galleries chairman Peter Jarvis said he was also interested in determining who actually had title to the panel.

Ferner bought the mural in good faith from an Auckland demolition contractor.

"He assured us that he had good title to the item and explained that he cleared demolition and building sites, often recovering a wide variety of items left on sites or in buildings he was contracted to clear, and which became his property to sell or dispose of as he saw fit."

When supplied with copies of a Herald report detailing when the mural was stolen, Mr Jarvis rang the vendor, who "again stated that he believes he had good title to the work and was entitled to sell it".

Brown said the work was estimated to be worth $4000 to $6000 in 1996, but "since then my prices have climbed considerably".

Mr Jarvis thought the painting was worth about $5000 but added it could be more because Brown's new work fetched $15,000.

Brown said the work belonged to the council as one of the 36 panels donated by artists.