Brazilian Police Arrest Suspect in Brutal Killing of American Art Dealer
Rio de Janeiro – Brazilian police have made an arrest in connection with the brutal killing of Brent Sikkema, a well-known American art dealer and co-owner of a prominent Manhattan gallery. Sikkema, 75, was found dead in his Rio de Janeiro apartment on Monday, with 18 stab wounds.
The suspect, identified as Alejandro Triana Trevez, was apprehended near the city of Uberaba in the neighboring state of Minas Gerais. Trevez, believed to be Cuban, was on the run and was found resting in a gas station. Police have stated that Trevez allegedly stole $3,000 from Sikkema’s home, leading them to believe that the motive for the crime was theft.
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Detective Felipe Curi, who leads the state police homicide unit, revealed that initial investigations indicate Trevez traveled from Sao Paulo specifically to commit the crime. He then returned to Sao Paulo, suggesting that he may have had privileged information about Sikkema’s whereabouts.
A 30-day prison warrant has been obtained against Trevez, allowing the police to further investigate the case and determine if there was any prior connection between the suspect and the victim.
Brent Sikkema was the co-owner of Sikkema Jenkins & Co., a prominent art gallery in Manhattan. The gallery, founded in 1991, showcased works by renowned artists such as Jeffrey Gibson, Arturo Herrera, Sheila Hicks, Vik Muniz, and Kara Walker. Sikkema’s career in the art world began in 1971 at the Visual Studies Workshop in Rochester, New York, where he worked as the director of exhibitions. He later opened his first gallery in Boston in 1976.
In 2021, Sikkema described himself on Instagram as a “chaos kind of guy” and expressed his love for Brazil and Cuba as his preferred destinations.
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Brazilian artist Vik Muniz, whose work has been exhibited at Sikkema’s gallery, paid tribute to his friend’s “humanity” and described Sikkema as fearless, kind, and sophisticated. Muniz expressed his gratitude for the influence Sikkema had on his own artistic journey.
The arrest of the suspect brings some closure to this tragic incident, but the investigation continues as the police delve deeper into the motive behind the killing and any possible connections between the victim and the suspect. The art world mourns the loss of a talented and respected figure, whose contributions will be greatly missed..
