A former art gallery employee sought for questioning about the theft of $50,500 worth of artworks was arrested Monday night in Kapolei.

Francis X. Blackwell, 59, was taken into custody at a Makahaiwa'a Place residence at 7 p.m. and booked on suspicion of first-degree theft. Blackwell is a former director of Island Art Galleries at Aloha Tower Marketplace.

Ann W. Taylor, 58, a former part-time Island Art Galleries consultant, was arrested with Blackwell. Blackwell was in police custody yesterday; Taylor was released pending further investigation.

Sgt. Dwayne Takayama of HPD's Central Honolulu burglary/theft detail said Blackwell and Taylor were house-sitting at the residence where the arrest took place.

According to Island Art Galleries owner Jeff Liu, the missing pieces of art include three original oil paintings by Chinese artist Zhou Ling and one by Zhenguo or Z.G. Tong.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.