Husband of Prominent New York Gallerist Convicted in Murder-for-Hire Plot
The New York Times • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Daniel Sikkema, estranged husband of New York gallerist Brent Sikkema, was found guilty by a federal jury in Manhattan of conspiring to hire a hitman to murder Brent in Rio de Janeiro in 2024.
- The murder occurred amid contentious divorce and custody battles, with Daniel using a burner phone to order the killing, according to U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.
- Brent Sikkema, 75, was found dead with 18 stab wounds, and he was a prominent figure in the art world, known for supporting artists like Kara Walker and Jeffrey Gibson.
- Daniel Sikkema faces a mandatory life sentence and plans to appeal his conviction, with no sentencing date yet set.
- Brent Sikkema's gallery, now Sikkema Malloy Jenkins, continues to represent notable artists, including Jeffrey Gibson, who was selected for the 2024 Venice Biennale.