Brazilian police arrest murder of New York art dealer

A man was arrested in Brazil on Thursday in connection with the murder of Brent Sikkema, a New York art dealer who was found with stab wounds in his Rio de Janeiro apartment this week.

The man was arrested at a gas station between the towns of Uberaba and Uberlandia, about 900 kilometers northwest of Rio de Janeiro, according to Rio police, who said he was the suspect in a robbery that resulted in death.

They said the man had traveled from São Paulo to Rio before Sikkema's death and was identified through security camera footage. Those images showed him getting out of a parked car in front of the dealer's house early on Sunday morning. A police statement did not indicate that he knew the dealer, but he did This is reported by the Associated Press that authorities said he was a Cuban man named Alejandro Triana Trevez.

The dealer's namesake gallery, Sikkema Jenkins & Co., focuses on contemporary art and moved from the SoHo neighborhood to the Chelsea arts district in 1999.

Sikkema, 75, has represented artists such as Kara Walker, Vik Muniz, Sheila Hicks, Louis Fratino and Jennifer Packer. One of the gallery's top artists, Jeffrey Gibson, is preparing to represent the United States at the Venice Biennale in April.

Alexander Gray, a New York gallery owner, said this week that Sikkema nurtured a generation of artists who explored identity, representation and experimental forms.

Scott Briscoe, spokesman for Sikkema Jenkins & Co., said it would soon announce a memorial to celebrate Sikkema's life and achievements.

“The outpouring of love and appreciation for Brent was overwhelming and a tremendous source of comfort to all of us at the gallery,” Briscoe said. “We thank everyone for their support and care during this difficult time.”

Ana Ionova reporting contributed.