More than 100 works by the late Op-art pioneer Victor Vasarely and his son Yvaral were reportedly seized by authorities last week during a raid on the Michèle Vasarely Foundation in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as branches of the late artist’s family feud over Vasarely’s artwork and legacy.
French authorities and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided the foundation and took the artwork away on the truck, according to El Nuevo Día, Puerto Rico’s largest newspaper. The raid was connected to an investigation into the location of hundreds of works of art worth more than $40m according to the newspaper, citing anonymous sources. The FBI did not immediately return a request for comment. The raid was reportedly carried out under an order by a judge in France.
The Michèle Vasarely Foundation was founded by Michèle Taburno-Vasarely, the second wife of Vasarely’s son Jean-Pierre, better known under his artist name of Yvaral. The ownership of the work held at Taburno-Vasarely’s foundation in San Juan has been challenged by Pierre Vasarely, Yvaral’s son from his first wife. Pierre leads the Vasarely Foundation, based in Aix-en-Provence, France, which was established in 1976 with Vasarely’s involvement before he died in 1997
VICTOR VASARELY SEIZED IN PUERTO RICO AMID LONGSTANDING FAMILY FEUD OVER OP ARTIST’S LEGACY
- avril 2023
- The art newspapper
Vasarely : la justice fédérale valide le rapatriement des 112 œuvres saisies à Porto Rico Marsactu
« Mon avis est prêt » : un juge fédéral lance un ultimatum dans l’affaire impliquant l’œuvre de Víctor Vasarely
Ils recherchent une éventuelle « résolution négociée » pour les œuvres de Victor Vasarely saisies par le FBI.
Nouveau rebondissement : Michèle Taburno Vasarely s’oppose au renvoi de l’affaire en France et exige la restitution des œuvres.
