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Setting Sun

By Intellectual Property Law, Esq.

One last link to the New York Sun, which will be missed. On Monday, Kate Taylor had an update on the disputes involving the works of outsider artist Martín Ramírez. Apparently the litigation involving 17 works owned by Maureen Hammond is "close to settlement," but now "the estate is looking into its possible rights to other Ramírez works, including [10 in the collection of] the Guggenheim." The overall state of play is as follows:

"Last year, when a trove of 144 previously unknown drawings came to light, the artist's heirs, who include a daughter in Mexico and 17 grandchildren, formed an estate and got legal representation. As a result of negotiations between the estate and the family in possession of the drawings ? the descendants of a doctor who treated Ramírez at one of the mental hospitals ? the estate now retains an interest in the works, which are being sold through the Ricco/Maresca Gallery, for prices that range from $50,000 to $350,000. Neither Frank Maresca, who is one of the owners of the gallery, nor a laywer for the estate, Eric Lieberman, would say what percentage of the proceeds the estate will get."

If you want to see what all the fuss is about (remember, Roberta Smith calls him "simply one of the greatest artists of the 20th century"), related exhbitions of Ramírez's "last works" are about to open at the Ricco/Maresca Gallery (tomorrow) and the American Folk Art Museum (next week).

Best of luck to Kate and all the other Sun staffers.

Full post as published by The Art Law Blog on October 01, 2008 (boomark / email).