A man who destroyed a sculpture by Denver artist Witold-K was arrested about 2 a.m. Friday after alert neighbors saw him attacking the artwork and called Denver police.
Witold-K, 76, whose last name is Kaczanowski and who owns the Arte Gallery at 329 Detroit St., said this is the second time someone has tried to destroy his red, wooden sculpture.
He said he thinks this vandalism might have been done by the same man he saw minutes before his sculpture was vandalized about a year and half ago.
Witold-K was nominated for the 2007 Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. He was born in Warsaw, Poland.
Last year, Witold-K became the first American artist to have a one-man show in which 163 of his paintings were exhibited at Sotheby’s in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Calls made Saturday to Denver police to confirm the identity of the suspect were not returned.
Witold-K said it took him two months to repair the sculpture the first time it was vandalized. This time, he said, he might have to find another artist to re-create it.
Witold-K said his neighbors told him that they saw a large man talking to himself, then climb on top of the sculpture and try to pry it apart. After that failed, they said, the man tossed it on its side.
The artist said he doesn’t know why anyone would target him or his work.
“It’s very sad. I’m trying to contribute as much as I can to the city,” he said.
Annette Espinoza: 303-954-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com
