Tragic Death of Renowned New York Art Gallery Founder Confirmed

Renowned contemporary-art gallery founder, Brent Sikkema, was tragically found dead on Monday in his apartment in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, according to a statement released by his art gallery, Sikkema Jenkins & Co. He was 75 years old.

Local police in Brazil reported to CNN Brasil that Sikkema was discovered with stab wounds, possibly inflicted by a box cutter or screwdriver. The cause of death is currently under investigation. The news of Sikkema's passing has brought immense sadness to the art world, with the gallery expressing their grief and promising to carry on his legacy.

Citing a Brazil-based newspaper, O Globo, Sikkema's lawyer, Simone Nunes, revealed that she had made unsuccessful attempts to contact him over the weekend. Nunes further stated that she found him deceased when she entered his home with a spare key she had for watching over the place when he was away from Rio.

Authorities in Rio de Janeiro intervened, removing Sikkema's body from the apartment and transferring it to the Legal Medical Institute for further examination. The precise details surrounding the incident have yet to be independently verified by The Washington Post.

The U.S. State Department spokesman issued a statement confirming the death of a U.S. citizen in Rio de Janeiro. The department extended sincere condolences to Sikkema's family and assured that they are providing all appropriate assistance to them. Due to privacy considerations, no additional comments were made.

Being a native of Illinois, Sikkema was born in 1948 and graduated from the now-defunct San Francisco Art Institute. His artistic journey began in 1971, holding the role of director of exhibitions at the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, N.Y. Subsequently, Sikkema worked as a director and then owner of the Vision Gallery in Boston from 1976 to 1989.

In 1991, Sikkema relocated to New York City, where he established his own contemporary-art gallery, initially known as Wooster Gardens, named after its location on Wooster Street. The gallery, now recognized as Sikkema Jenkins & Co., settled in the Chelsea arts district in 1999.

Renowned for its representation of contemporary Black artists, Sikkema Jenkins & Co. currently represents 32 artists, including notable names like Kara Walker, Louis Fratino, and Sheila Hicks. Additionally, the gallery features Jeffrey Gibson, an artist of Cherokee descent and a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, who will be representing the United States in the highly anticipated 60th annual Venice Biennale, becoming the first Indigenous artist to do so.

Brent Sikkema's untimely death brings an immense loss to the art community, and his contributions will be sorely missed. The investigation into his death continues as friends, family, and the art world mourn the passing of a visionary gallery founder.