Sisters Chase Stolen Artwork of Father, Renowned Israeli Artist, Amid Auction Sale
Hadassah and Tzlila Bao have been conducting a years-long investigation to recover stolen artworks by their father, Yosef Bao, a prominent multidisciplinary Israeli artist. Sixteen years ago, several of his pieces were stolen from the small "Beit Yosef Bao" museum in Tel Aviv. Recently, the sisters discovered one of his original paintings listed for auction, prompting them to alert the police in an effort to halt the sale. They fear the painting might be sold before ownership is legally resolved and do not want to face having to repurchase stolen family art again.
The sisters view these works as irreplaceable family heritage rather than mere assets. They have previously recovered other stolen items, including a rare animation cell found at a flea market in Jaffa earlier this year, which they bought to prevent it from disappearing again. Despite their efforts, the reality remains difficult as they often must pay to reclaim their father’s stolen creations.
The auction house involved stated it is only a broker and not the owner of the painting, which was consigned by a private individual. The owner cannot confirm if the painting is stolen and said it would be removed from sale upon official police request. The painting has reportedly been sold three times in recent years.
Yosef Bao was not only an artist but also a graphic designer, animation pioneer, illustrator, poet, font designer, inventor, advertiser, and a secret operative for Israeli intelligence. Born in Krakow in 1920, he survived the Holocaust by using his artistic skills, forging documents to save Jews, and aiding the Jewish underground. After World War II, he immigrated to Israel, where he continued his artistic and intelligence work until his death.
The sisters emphasize that the theft is ongoing, with many works still missing. They urge anyone holding original pieces by their father to return them, stressing these are part of their family legacy and the history of their parents’ survival and contributions.
