Brent Sikkema, a 75-year-old New York City art dealer, was found dead in his Rio de Janeiro apartment on Monday night, January 15. The Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro State confirmed that Sikkema had been stabbed to death with a sharp object. His death is being investigated as a homicide.
Simone Nunes, Sikkema’s lawyer, discovered his body. Nunes had been unable to contact Sikkema since Saturday for a scheduled meeting on Monday. Concerned, she used a key she possessed to enter the apartment, where she found Sikkema’s body on his bed.
Authorities reported that an unidentified suspect was seen leaving Sikkema’s residence with cash after staying for approximately 15 minutes. Surveillance footage from Saturday around 3:43 a.m. showed a man entering and exiting Sikkema’s residence. The footage captured the man removing gloves before driving away. The police are investigating the incident as a robbery and are seeking to identify the suspect seen in the video. The apartment had security cameras, but it is unclear if they provided any evidence.
Sikkema, who co-owned the contemporary art gallery Sikkema Jenkins & Co., was a prominent figure in the New York City art world. The gallery, founded in the early 1990s, represents well-known artists such as Sheila Hicks and Kara Walker. Sikkema Jenkins & Co. confirmed the dealer’s death in a statement on its website, expressing sadness over the loss of their beloved founder.
Born and raised in Illinois, Sikkema graduated from the San Francisco Art Institute. His career in the art world spanned several decades. Before establishing Sikkema Jenkins & Co., he opened galleries in Boston and Rochester, including the contemporary New York City gallery Wooster Gardens, which later became Sikkema Jenkins & Co.
Local authorities in Rio de Janeiro are conducting a forensic examination of Sikkema’s body as part of the ongoing investigation.
Sikkema had been visiting Brazil for over ten years and owned a home in Rio de Janeiro. He had been in Brazil since Christmas and applied for a visa to move there permanently. He was supposed to return to New York on Tuesday.
The US Consulate in Rio de Janeiro confirmed the death of a US citizen in the city. The State Department offered condolences to Sikkema’s family and stated they are providing all appropriate assistance. Sikkema’s lawyer will work with the State Department to have his body sent back to New York.
In 2021, Sikkema described himself on Instagram as a “chaos kind of guy,” mentioning Brazil and Cuba as his preferred destinations. A photo shared on his purported Instagram in July 2016 showed him with then-first lady Michelle Obama, which he captioned with admiration for her.
As the investigation continues, the art world grieves the loss of Sikkema. “The gallery grieves this tremendous loss and will continue on in his spirit,” the tribute on Sikkema Jenkins & Co.’s website concluded.
