‘DORM ROOM’ KANDINSKY
College grandkid stole $1M art: suit
A Manhattan woman is afraid her niece has turned a pricey piece of family art into a wall poster at her college dorm.
Ingrid Wright filed suit against her 20-year-old niece, Mackenzie Wright, in Manhattan Surrogate’s Court, claiming the Fashion Institute of Technology student swiped a $1 million painting by Wassily Kandinsky from her late grandma’s Manhattan apartment.
“It is a real possibility that [Mackenzie] has squirreled away the Kandinsky in her dorm room or elsewhere,” according to court papers filed last week.
The prized painting belonged to Mackenzie’s grandmother, Faith-Dorian Wright, an art collector who died on Sept. 18.
But Ingrid, the executor of Faith-Dorian’s estate, has owned the Kandinsky painting since 2009 “when she received it from a trust created by her father,” according to court filings. Ingrid is now demanding that her niece immediately return the work, which is sometimes called “The Black Line.”
The aunt is especially concerned that Mackenzie has been considering selling it while making the rounds on the arts party circuit. “[Ingrid] recently found out that [Mackenzie] recently attended Sotheby’s art-auction parties and also attended Art Basel in Miami Beach in December,” the court papers state.
“Art Basel is a prestigious art fair with galleries and exhibits attended by major buyers of art from all over the world. [Ingrid] fears that [Mackenzie] may be arranging to sell the Kandinsky.”
The FIT student’s lawyer, Ste- ven L. Keats, said he has idea” why Ingrid believes painting belongs to her.
Mackenzie claims her grandmother simply gave it to her as a gift before her death, according to court papers.
“I could only tell you what I know — it’s in a safe place,” Keats said when asked where the painting was being stored. “I believe my client will prevail,” he added. “no the
In September, Ingrid accused Mackenzie’s brother, Austin, of taking a bowl worth at least $15 million that once belonged to explorer Capt. James Cook.
Austin wrote in court papers that his grandmother gave him the bowl for his “hard work and determination.” Mackenzie could not be reached for comment. When reached by phone, Ingrid said she “can’t speak on it.”