Actualités judiciaires – 2002

Vasarely, Arp and Giacometti: The three French foundations plagued by lawsuits

There are only about 15 art foundations in France (see box), and most of them function without problems; however three are highly controversial, often in the news and the subject of multiple lawsuits. They are the Vasarely and Arp Foundations, which are struggling to survive, and the future Giacometti Foundation, which is struggling to be born.

Vasarely: in a deep coma One of the most acute examples of the problems surrounding these institutions concerns the Vasarely Foundation, whose long-running problems have plunged it into a deep coma.

It was created in September 1971 by Victor Vasarely, the 1970s Op-art darling whose work has since fallen considerably in the public esteem. He and his wife gave works of art worth, at the time, more than FFr300 million (about £22.5m; $54m), and opened a museum in Gordes and a splendid building in Aix-en-Provence. In 1981 the directors of the museum entered into an agreement with the law faculty of Aix-Marseille university, which was given responsibility for managing the foundation. Charles Debbasch, honorary president of the university, became president of the foundation.