Daniel Sikkema Convicted in Murder-for-Hire Killing of Prominent New York Art Dealer Brent Sikkema
By Darren Smith, Arts Reporter
May 23, 2026
In a verdict that has reverberated through the global art world, a federal jury in Manhattan convicted Daniel Sikkema on Friday of orchestrating the brutal murder of his estranged husband, prominent New York gallerist Brent Sikkema. The unanimous decision, reached in under two hours of deliberation, brings a measure of closure to a case marked by betrayal, financial disputes, and shocking violence that unfolded in a Rio de Janeiro townhouse.
Brent Sikkema, 75 at the time of his death, was a towering figure in contemporary art. As founder of the gallery now known as Sikkema Malloy Jenkins (originally Wooster Gardens), he championed a diverse roster of artists for over three decades, including luminaries like Kara Walker, Vik Muniz, Arturo Herrera, Jeffrey Gibson, and Sheila Hicks. His Chelsea gallery stood as a beacon for innovative practices spanning painting, sculpture, photography, and installation. Colleagues remembered him as a visionary who elevated underrepresented voices long before diversity became industry shorthand.
The killing occurred on January 14, 2024. Brent Sikkema was found stabbed approximately 18 times in his vacation home in Rio’s upscale Jardim Botânico neighborhood. Brazilian authorities quickly arrested suspect Alejandro Triana Prevez, who allegedly carried out the attack. U.S. prosecutors built a compelling case that Daniel Sikkema, 55, had hired Prevez amid a bitter divorce battle involving custody of their teenage son and disputes over a multimillion-dollar estate.
Evidence presented at trial included secret financial transfers totaling around $9,000 to Prevez before and after the murder, burner phone communications, and attempts to conceal connections. Prosecutors highlighted Daniel Sikkema’s alleged statements about benefiting more from his husband’s death than from divorce proceedings. The jury convicted him on three counts: murder-for-hire conspiracy resulting in death, murder-for-hire resulting in death, and conspiracy to murder or maim abroad. He faces a mandatory life sentence.
The case exposed the undercurrents of personal turmoil that can shadow even the most polished art world lives. Friends described the couple’s relationship as once loving but increasingly strained. Brent Sikkema, who split time between New York and Brazil, viewed his Rio property as an oasis. Instead, it became the site of unimaginable horror. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton called the plot “cold-blooded,” noting how investigators thwarted efforts to evade justice.
This tragedy has prompted soul-searching in the tight-knit community of dealers, collectors, and artists. The gallery, now operating as Sikkema Malloy Jenkins, continues its programming while honoring its founder’s vision. The conviction underscores the justice system’s reach across borders in an era of international art markets and complex personal lives.
As the art world processes this loss, the verdict affirms accountability for even the most calculated crimes. Brent Sikkema’s contributions—to aesthetic discourse, to emerging talents, and to cultural dialogue—endure far beyond the courtroom drama.
Read the full U.S. Attorney’s announcement here: Justice.gov. Explore the gallery’s ongoing legacy: Sikkema Malloy Jenkins. For more on the trial coverage: ARTnews. Additional insights from Hyperallergic and court details via The New York Times.
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