Art Market Monitor

Global Coverage ~ Unique Analysis

  • AMMpro
  • AMM Fantasy Collecting Game
  • Podcast
  • Contact Us

Cruise Ship Complaints

February 7, 2010 by Marion Maneker

Georgina Adam reports in the Financial Times on the latest spate of suits involving cruise ship gallery Park West. Adam reports that Park West sells 300,000 works of art each year generating as much as $450m. That’s a huge amount of art. It either explains the number of complaints against the firm–with so many customers there are bound to be some disputes–or mis-representing the value of art is a great business to be in:

Last month six amended complaints were filed in Washington against the gallery; one dissatisfied client claimed in court papers that the gallery was selling “phony and materially overvalued art with worthless appraisals to unsuspecting victims”, citing works by Dalí, Picasso and Rembrandt.

Separately, lawyer Don Payton, who represents other buyers, is preparing to file another complaint against Park West on behalf of 10 plaintiffs in Michigan and thinks there may be more. “I’m getting three or four e-mails or calls about the gallery each week,” he says.

The Art Market: A Record-Breaking Giacometti (Financial Times)

More from Art Market Monitor

  • Christie’s London Contemporary Fights Fatigue with Bacon, Dubuffet & Single-Owner CollectionsChristie’s London Contemporary Fights Fatigue with Bacon, Dubuffet & Single-Owner Collections
  • Kahlo Cache ControversyKahlo Cache Controversy
  • Los Angeles, Museum Capital of Contemporary Art?Los Angeles, Museum Capital of Contemporary Art?
  • Artprice: 70m ‘Art Consumers’ Send Market ↑17% in ’14Artprice: 70m ‘Art Consumers’ Send Market ↑17% in ’14
  • Taking Stock of Russian ArtTaking Stock of Russian Art
  • Canada’s Aboriginal Nunavut Artists Benefit from Strong US DollarCanada’s Aboriginal Nunavut Artists Benefit from Strong US Dollar

Filed Under: Dealers

About Marion Maneker

Want to get Art Market Monitor‘s posts sent to you in our email? Sign up below by clicking on the Subscribe button.

Top Posts

  • Keith Haring’s 1989 Retrospect Comes to Sotheby’s London Prints Sale
  • Tony Podesta's Secret Art Buying
  • Four of Picasso's Women Valued at $28m Come to Christie's from Rose-Walters Collection
  • Norman Rockwell's Not Gay. But Is He a Great Artist?
  • Roy Lichtenstein’s Top Ten Auction Prices
  • How to Chant Like an Auctioneer
  • Selection Bias In Art Is What Creates Value
  • Aboudia, Zemba Luzamba, Dickens Otieno Anchor Contemporary African Art Sale at Artcurial in Marrakesh
  • Tracey Emin Neon Lights Up Sotheby's 'Contemporary Showcase' Pop-Up
  • Sotheby's Pulls in a $9m David Hockney for November
  • About Us/ Contact
  • Podcast
  • AMMpro
  • Newsletter
  • FAQ

twitterfacebooksoundcloud
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
California Privacy Rights
Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Advertise on Art Market Monitor