Artists Allege Unpaid Earnings by Arusha Gallery Based in London
Fresh Take:
On a chaotic Thursday, ten disgruntled artists slammed London's Arusha Gallery for dragging their heels on $700,000 worth of overdue payments in an explosive joint statement to The Art Newspaper. The next day, more artists reached out to our platform alleging similar issues and owed money by the gallery.
The joint statement came from artists Pippa Young, Anna Rocke, Plum Cloutman, Ilona Szalay, Megan Rea, Kate Walters, Gail Harvey, Morwenna Morrison, Helen Flockhart, and Charlotte Keates. The artists claimed they had faced "unbearable hardship" trying to recover funds for sold art, often waiting months, if not years to receive the money owed.
Bonus Insights:
Now, let's dive into the nitty-gritty of this saga. According to legal experts, issues like these typically revolve around contract law. If the sale and payment terms were violated, artists may pursue legal action. But with the art market being less regulated than other industries, disputes can be common. It's essential for artists to know their rights and seek professional support when needed.
Back to the Story:
Keates, who's been associated with the gallery for a decade, claimed she's owed a staggering £430,000 ($580,000) based on statutory demands made by her lawyer, Jon Sharples. However, the gallery's owner, Bella Arusha Collins King, reportedly denied the alleged debt in legal correspondence, according to The Art Newspaper. Sharples argued that despite the lack of specific payment terms, the law assumes that payment should happen in a "reasonable time."
Cloutman, another artist listed, shared her hardship, claiming she's owed around $3,000 from sales made at a show held a year ago at Arusha. In her case, she did sign a consignment agreement with the gallery, but the agreed payment window passed without any payment.
Four more artists (not named in the statement) got in touch with our platform, sharing their claims of unpaid dues from the sale of their artworks. Meanwhile, Bruno Gilbert, who represents the estate of the late Scottish artist Norman Gilbert, also alleged that Arusha owes the estate money for the sale of artworks.
Keates' case isn't the only one causing ripples. Carter, another artist, shared her struggle, claiming the gallery became less reliable, and payments were often delayed. Collins King, Carter alleged, "made continuous promises... and then those dates passed with no payment or explanation." The gallery still owes Carter approximately $8,600 for two works.
An anonymous artist shared a similar tale, stating that they consigned around 30 works to Arusha for a show in 2023. However, no sales occurred, and the gallery eventually returned the works in poor condition.
The Norman Gilbert estate also claimed outstanding sales invoices totalling approximately $28,000 from 2023 to the present, along with an oil painting worth $10,000 that they demanded be returned. "Lies, empty promises, and stalled payments," – that's the sharp sting in the artists' collective cry against Arusha Gallery.
Arusha, in response, has acknowledged missing payments but attributed their troubles to the recent slump in the art market and the sudden passing of Guy Rowland Maxwell Bargery, the gallery's co-owner. Despite their difficulties, they're still gearing up to build a wellness and exhibition space in Wales. Whether it's an "exceptional destination for contemporary art, art education, and culture," as claimed by Arusha, remains to be seen.
In the words of Young, one of the artists, "It's a warehouse for broken dreams." A harsh but haunting sentiment echoing the disappointment felt by many artists at the hands of Arusha Gallery. Only time will tell if justice is served, and the gallery mends its ways.
For up-to-date information on this dispute, keep your eyes peeled on the headlines.
- The concerned artists, including Charlotte Keates, Pippa Young, Plum Cloutman, Ilona Szalay, Anna Rocke, Megan Rea, Kate Walters, Gail Harvey, Morwenna Morrison, and Helen Flockhart, have accused Arusha Gallery of delayed and questionable payments, impacting their financial well-being and business.
- In an attempt to recover their funds, the artists have sought legal advice, with the art market's less regulated nature contributing to common disputes among art businesses.
- The artists have hosted their artworks in Arusha Gallery for sales and exhibitions, such as Charlotte Keates' £430,000 ($580,000) worth of sales, which are overdue, and Plum Cloutman's unpaid $3,000 from a show a year ago.
- Apart from these named artists, several other contemporary artists have also reached out regarding unpaid dues for their artworks, further adding to the grievances against the gallery.
- Subsequently, other entities such as the estate of the late Scottish artist Norman Gilbert have also reported outstanding claims against Arusha Gallery, amounting to approximately $28,000 in sales invoices and a $10,000 oil painting.
