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Gmurzynska Gallery gets hit by US Marshals and “Rambo” at Art Basel Miami Beach

On December 2, at 10:30 am, before the fair doors opened about a dozen US Marshals rushed to Art Basel Miami to reclaim four paintings from Gmurzynska gallery’s booth: a Degas Jockeys, a Miró abstract from the 1920s, a Léger and an Yves Klein, an estimated worth of $6 million dollars. The ArtNewspaper reported “The story behind this dramatic move is a lawsuit that opposes Edelman Arts Inc “as assignee for XL Speciality Insurance Company” and Gmurzynska gallery. In his original complaint, according to court documents, Edelman accused Gmurzynska of damaging a Ryman painting, Courier I, 1985, which was on consignment from Edelman Arts Inc to Gmurzynska. He claimed $750,000 in damages. He said that the seizure resulted from a judgement “entered by the New York courts in the matter of insurance misinformation”. The court made a default judgement of more than $767,400 to be paid by the gallery to Edelman.” Edelman said the artworks would be auctioned by the U.S. Marshals to pay XL, Edelman Arts and lawyers’ fees, with any surplus going to Galerie Gmurzynska.
Although the private federal court order caused much of a scene, peering in the back half of the gallery was actor and stuntman, Stallone, who was exhibiting his paintings for the first time ever. Two of paintings sold later for $40-50,000, with one famous buyer casino owner, Steve Wynn.