Art stolen from Las Vegas studio that offers classe for kids

A group of at least three bandits stole multiple statues from a beloved Las Vegas studio that offers classes and camps for children, as well as adults, last week.

Ekaterina Shestakova, who owns Bash and Design Gallery in the Spring Valley neighborhood of Las Vegas, said in a video message posted to social media that she was notified of the break-in by the gallery’s neighbor.

“Once again, our store gets freaking vandalized,” Shestakova said. “Like the dragon that we made, the sculpture that my team worked on so hard, somebody just pulled up and freaking ripped the head off and ran with it, like as a trophy.”

Shestakova shared surveillance footage that appears to show a white Chevrolet Suburban, likely from 2007 to 2014, pulling up as two men run off-frame, then back on-frame carrying objects, before the driver takes off.

The theft is being investigated by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, according to KTNV, which first reported the news.

“Like this takes time, takes money, like we're trying to make this world, this community a better place, and like these scumbags just think they can do that,” Shestakova said. “Like you're just disgusting, so low.”

In another video, Shestakova said the stolen items included a Hello Kitty flowerpot and a rooster sculpture—all of which were described as large statues.

“I want to cry. Like after talking to my mom about what happened, I'm making a big deal out of this because things like that should not happen to freaking people who are trying to make this community better,” she said.

The studio was co-founded by Shestakova with her mother, the classically trained fine artist Maria “Masha” Ermolaeva. Shestakova holds a degree in hospitality from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Shestakova told KTNV that the theft was affecting the studio’s young students who were in the process of painting the dragon when its head was stolen. She estimated the stolen and damaged artwork to be worth some $6,000.

“Screw this. I am mad, I am pissed off. Pissed off at the awful people like this,” Shestakova said. “And I'm pissed off at, I don't know, the property management, the landlord, I'm pissed off at this area.”

Follow along with other art crime stories at Urgent Matter’s art crime tracker.