Brazilian police are looking for husband for murder of famous art dealer
Brazilian police investigating the murder of Brent Sikkema, a prominent New York art dealer who was stabbed to death in his Rio de Janeiro apartment last month, are now seeking the arrest of his husband, Daniel Sikkema.
It was a shocking turn in a case that has captivated the art world. Brent Sikkema represented a number of leading contemporary artists, and his gallery was preparing to help one of them, Jeffrey Gibson, represent the United States this spring at the Venice Biennale, the most prestigious exhibition in the world.
A lawyer for Daniel Sikkema, Fabiana Marques, said he was innocent and remained in New York, where he was “shocked” by the latest development.
When Brent Sikkema was found murdered in Rio, investigators said at least $40,000 had been stolen. After recovering surveillance footage that they said showed his former bodyguard, a 30-year-old man named Alejandro Triana Prevez, entering and exiting the home, they took Mr. Prevez into custody about 600 miles northwest of the city. (Police originally identified Mr. Prevez by the last name Trevez.)
A lawyer for Mr. Prevez, Gregorio Andrade, said Mr. Prevez claims Daniel Sikkema offered him $200,000 to carry out the killing. “He manipulated my client,” Mr. Andrade said.
The Sikkemas were married for almost fifteen years, but that is still the case locked in divorce proceedings since 2022, including a battle over the custody terms of their son, who is now 13.
Daniel Sikkema's lawyer, Ms Marques, said her client was innocent of the murder. “It is important to note that Daniel was not given the opportunity to be interviewed by police despite proactively presenting himself for questioning via email,” she said.
She questioned Mr. Prevez's story. “Alejandro's strategy of accusing someone of being the mastermind of the crime, especially when flanked by his lawyers, is clearly aimed at obtaining a more lenient sentence,” she argued.
Daniel Sikkema was rarely seen at the opening and closing of the exhibitions that his husband created, according to friends of the art dealer. He emigrated to the United States after a difficult childhood in Cuba and an early adulthood as a male escort in Spain. He chronicled that journey in a 2006 autobiography called 'Ticket to paradise”, which described how he escaped the island and made a living.
One evening shortly after Brent Sikkema was found dead, Daniel Sikkema posted a photo of a black rose on social media, where he goes by his birth name Daniel García Carrera. He later wrote a short post in Spanish to express his grief. “Our son and I cry for you without tears, we cry for you in the way that hurts the most,” he said.
Friends of the art dealer continue to mourn his death.
“His heart was in art,” says Arlene Shechet, an artist who was represented for years by Brent Sikkema's gallery, Sikkema Jenkins & Co.. “Being a businessman was never his source of inspiration.”
Artforum's former top editor, David Velasco, had become close to Brent Sikkema and was planning to visit the dealer in Rio when he heard of the murder.
“He was a friend and in some ways a father figure,” Velasco said. “I remember seeing him and Daniel after the birth of their son. They were over the moon.”
“Every part of this,” Mr. Velasco said, “is so heartbreaking.”
Ana Ionova contributed reporting from Rio de Janeiro.