Mary Boone Sues Collector

According to Artnet, Mary Boone, the reputable, aggressive and attractive art dealer has filed a lawsuit in New York state supreme court seeking to compel Ohio collector Mary Kidder, a trustee of the Columbus Museum of Art, to complete a purchase of a painting worth $32,000.

The gallery claims that the collector agreed to buy the work, forming a “binding contract” for the purchase, “pursuant to the custom and practice of the art world,” and sent the collector an invoice. About two weeks later, according to the lawsuit, Kidder told the gallery she had changed her mind and was canceling the transaction. Since the gallery had paid Cotton $30,000 for the painting on her account, the gallery says, Kidder should complete the purchase, or at least compensate the gallery for its costs ($30,000 to Cotton).

More here.