Mexico City authorities confirmed on Wednesday the arrest of a suspect for the theft of historic sculptures from the Parish of San Cosme in the capital’s San Rafael neighbourhood, including a sculpture by British-Mexican painter Leonora Carrington, a towering figure in the 20th-century surrealist movement.
The theft was reported by Father José de Jesús Aguilar Valdés, who posted a video captured by security cameras on his social media accounts to ask for help in identifying the perpetrators.
¡Ayúdenme por favor a difundir este robo! pic.twitter.com/Ej9OFVIky8
— PadreJosedeJesusAguilar (@PadreJosedeJes) July 7, 2026
According to the priest, the pieces stolen from the church’s garden early Tuesday morning include Carrington’s Black Dog; a bronze sculpture by artist César Ruiz Cureño inspired by the Remedios Varo sculpture, Woman Leaving the Psychoanalyst; as well as two bronze angels and several plaques.
Following the priest’s public statements, the Mexico City Ministry of Citizen Security (SSC) arrested a 26-year-old man identified as the likely perpetrator, based on surveillance footage. Officials have yet to report the recovery of the stolen sculptures and plaques, and the investigation remains open to locate the other individuals involved.
The stolen pieces were part of a garden beautification project conceived as a space for contemplation open to the community, which included 15 artworks alluding to animal protection, art and various social causes, like that of the madres buscadoras (searching mothers).
One of the stolen plaques is of special relevance as it explained that Carrington and Varo were neighbors in the San Rafael neighborhood, for which they were frequent visitors to the parish. According to the plaque, Carringotn lived in the Grégoire de Wollant building, while Varo resided at Gabino Barreda 18, just a few blocks away.
Both artists were exiled to Mexico during World War II, where they became key figures in the country’s surrealist art movement. Beyond maintaining a close friendship, they developed much of their work in Mexico City, including some of their most renowned pieces.
The parish urged the general public not to purchase any items that may have been stolen, emphasizing that the value of the artworks goes far beyond their scrap-metal value, as they represent stories and symbols built by the community over the years.
“We will keep ensuring that the parish of San Cosme is a place of faith but also of art,” Aguilar said.
With reports from El Universal, El Financiero and El País
