Authorities in Brazil are investigating after a prominent New York art dealer was apparently stabbed to death in his Rio apartment.
The body of Brent Sikkema, 75, was found in his Rio de Janeiro apartment Monday night, according to the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro State.
Sikkema — who co-owned the contemporary Chelsea art gallery Sikkema Jenkins & Co. — appeared to have been stabbed to death.
An unidentified suspect was also seen leaving the residence with cash after stopping by for about 15 minutes, the newspaper O Globo alleged.
Authorities were called to Sikkema’s apartment by his lawyer, Simone Nunes, who told O Globo that she went over to check on the septuagenarian after not hearing from him over the weekend.
Nunes entered using a key she had for house-sitting, and found Sikkema dead, the outlet explained.
Experts are still conducting a forensic examination of Sikkema’s body as the investigation gets underway, local authorities added.
“Officers will listen to witnesses, are looking for more information and are carrying out other inquiries to shed light on the case,” the police said.
Sikkema Jenkins & Co. confirmed the dealer’s death in a statement on its website.
“It is with great sadness that the gallery announces the passing of our beloved founder, Brent Sikkema,” the tribute read.
Sikkema was born and raised in Illinois and eventually graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute, the brief obituary noted.
After several years in the art world, he opened the contemporary New York City gallery Wooster Gardens, which eventually became Sikkema Jenkins & Co., in the early 1990s.
At the time of Sikkema’s death, the gallery represented well-known artists like Sheila Hicks and Kara Walker.
A photo shared on his purported Instagram in July 2016 showed him with then-first lady Michelle Obama. “So incredibly proud of this extraordinary woman,” he wrote.
“The gallery grieves this tremendous loss and will continue on in his spirit,” the write-up concluded.
The US Consulate of Rio also confirmed the death of a US citizen in the city, though it did not elaborate on the circumstances.
“We offer our sincerest condolences to the family. We are providing all appropriate assistance to the family. Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment,” a State Department spokesperson told the Washington Post.
With Post wires
Sarah Wilson is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
