Brent Sikkema, Influential New York Gallery Owner, Found Dead in Rio de Janeiro Apartment
Brent Sikkema, an influential and respected gallery owner from New York, was tragically found dead on January 15 in his apartment in Rio de Janeiro. He was 75 years old.
Cause of Death and Investigation
The Brazilian police have reported that Mr. Sikkema had apparently been stabbed multiple times. An investigation is currently underway, and a suspect has been arrested.
A Legacy of Artistic Discovery
As the founder of the renowned Sikkema Jenkins & Co. Gallery in Manhattan’s Chelsea Arts District, Mr. Sikkema played a vital role in discovering, guiding, exhibiting, and selling the work of a diverse group of distinguished artists. His gallery showcased artists whose work combined vibrant, accessible colors with important themes such as memory, race, and identity.
Sikkema Jenkins represented artists at every stage of their careers, from long-time pioneer of textile art, Sheila Hicks, to young figurative painter Sister Louis. The gallery showcased artists working in various mediums, including sculptors like William Cordoba and choreographers like Trisha Brown. While some artists eventually moved on to larger galleries, a core group of loyalists, including Vik Muniz, Arturo Herrera, and Kara Walker, remained with Mr. Sikkema for decades as they built their careers together.
Personal Connections and Fond Memories
Kara Walker, one of the artists represented by Sikkema Jenkins, fondly remembered her personal relationship with Mr. Sikkema, stating, “He was a caring and protective figure to me when I was a very young upstart. He saw something in me beyond what either of us could fully express, but I think we brought out the best in each other.”
Photographer Vik Muniz, who had known Mr. Sikkema for over 30 years, expressed his admiration, saying, “I have spent over 30 years trying to pointlessly imitate his juggling between fearlessness and kindness and sophistication.”
Continuing Influence and Dedication
In recent years, Mr. Sikkema had been less involved in the day-to-day operations of the gallery as he spent more time in Brazil, where he sought to reside and where many of his artists lived. Nevertheless, the institution he had built continued to impact artists like painter Brenda Goodman, who achieved her dream of showing at Sikkema Jenkins in 2019 after aspiring to do so for many years.
A Life in Art
Born on August 13, 1948, in Morrison, Illinois, Brent Fay Sikkema discovered his passion for art at a young age. He received a BFA in 1970 and an MFA in 1971 from the San Francisco Art Institute, where he studied film and photography. Throughout his career, he made significant contributions to the art world, including winning photography fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Mr. Sikkema began working with other artists early on, serving as a director at the nonprofit Visual Studies Workshop before becoming the owner of the Vision Gallery in Boston. In 1989, he held his first exhibition in New York under the name Brent Sikkema Fine Art. Two years later, he established a permanent space in SoHo called Wooster Gardens, where he showcased innovative photographs and works by women painters.
A Lasting Legacy
Over the years, Sikkema Jenkins & Co. Gallery represented numerous talented artists, including Mark Bradford, Wangechi Mutu, Deana Lawson, and Arlene Shechet. Mr. Sikkema’s dedication and eye for multiculturalism were evident in the gallery’s exhibitions, which celebrated diversity and pushed boundaries.
Jeffrey Gibson, who will represent the United States at the Venice Biennale, joined the gallery in 2018 and praised Mr. Sikkema’s support of queer art spaces, emphasizing his role as a supportive friend rather than just a dealer or gallery owner.
The art world mourns the loss of Brent Sikkema, a visionary gallery owner whose legacy will continue to inspire generations of artists.
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