Today, something I had feared for a while happened again. Four of my artworks were stolen. This isn’t the first time my art has been taken, but this incident pushed me to share my story. Over the years, I’ve experienced several thefts of my work, and while I’ve tried to move on, I’ve reached a point where I can’t and won’t stay silent anymore. Here, I’ll recount each episode as vividly as I remember.
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### **Bitcoin Conference 2022**
The first painting that was stolen happened during the Bitcoin Conference in 2022. It was a chaotic day, filled with energy and movement. As I was walking back and forth from the event space to the parking lot, loading unsold pieces into my car, someone took my artwork. The piece, titled **”Decentralize,”** was a framed 20×28″ painting valued at $3,500. I didn’t notice it missing until I got home, and by then, it was too late. This was my first major loss, and it stung deeply.
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### **Vegan Restaurant Incident, 2023**
The next piece disappeared under very suspicious circumstances. I had loaned one of my paintings to a vegan restaurant called **”Under the Mango Tree”** in South Beach, where it decorated the space for a while. One day, I visited the restaurant only to find the painting missing. When I called the owner, Patty, she claimed the piece had been accidentally destroyed by workers during a remodeling project. However, her story didn’t sit right with me. Initially, she said she had taken it home, then later claimed she thought I had gifted it to the restaurant since I hadn’t visited in a while. When I pressed for details and asked for the contacts of the workers involved, she refused to provide them. The whole ordeal felt suspicious and hurtful. That painting was a 24×24″ piece valued at $3,000. I’ve since stopped visiting what used to be one of my favorite vegan spots.
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### **Gallery Dispute, 2019**
Back in 2019, when I operated my gallery in downtown Miami, I encountered another frustrating situation. A woman named Sara, who owned multiple clothing stores, purchased one of my paintings and expressed interest in collaborating on her jacket designs. She paid for one piece but took a second painting on the promise of paying for it later. Despite multiple calls and reminders, she never fulfilled her promise. When I asked her to return the unpaid painting, she initially agreed but never followed through. This particular painting was a 30×30″ piece valued at $4,500.
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### **Mining Disrupt 2023**
Another theft occurred during the Mining Disrupt crypto conference in 2023. A large, unstretched canvas measuring 50×50″ was taken directly from the wall during the event. The piece was valued at $8,000. Despite reaching out to event organizers and attendees, I never recovered it.
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### **Earthy Office Theft, 2024**
This latest incident has left me heartbroken. Back in June 2024, my friend Sam Singer rented an office for his startup, Earthy. As part of the branding and UI/UX design I was helping with, I displayed four of my artworks in the office. Over time, Sam traveled to Dubai to raise funds, and I stopped visiting the office. When I eventually decided to retrieve my art, I found the office completely empty. Sam’s colleagues and partners claimed they knew nothing about the missing artworks, and the landlord, Amir, denied taking anything.
These stolen paintings were large and highly valuable:
1. **48×72″ painting** – Valued at $15,000
2. **40×40″ painting** – Valued at $10,000
3. **36×60″ painting** – Valued at $9,000
4. **36×48″ painting** – Valued at $12,000
This incident, involving four pieces at once, is devastating. These weren’t just artworks; they were pieces of my soul, poured into each brushstroke.
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### **If You See These Artworks**
If you’ve seen any of these paintings or know of their whereabouts, please reach out. My art is more than a livelihood—it’s my passion and identity. Losing these pieces has been heartbreaking, but I’m hopeful that by sharing my story, I can bring awareness and possibly recover what’s been lost. Thank you for your support.