Seized work of artist Ken Clarke is missing
Oct 8 2009 by Sara Nichol, The Journal
“I eventually managed to find out where I could pick my work up but when I got there, most of it was missing. The bailiffs said everything they took from inside the gallery was there.
“My work has gone missing. I saw Matt Forster at the Sage Art Fair on Saturday and he said my work hadn’t been sold and should be with all the rest.
“I have put a lot of work into them, usually about 35 hours each, and I really like them. They are very personal to me, especially seeing as I only had my first exhibition in the gallery in March. So it’s early days for me as an artist, which does make it upsetting. I would be absolutely over the moon if I found them or found out where they were.”
Nick Rowley, Newcastle City Council’s head of property services, said people had until October 21 to retrieve their work, after which it could be sold.
He said steps were being taken to retrieve rent owed by Matt Forster, who ran Art Works Galleries but started to fall into arrears in 2007. To collect their work, artists must contact the bailiffs at Thoburns Enforcement Services, Gateshead, on (0191) 477-0296. Alternatively, they can email council surveyor Chris Healy on chris.healy@newcastle.gov.uk.
