A Hollywood dispute over a Richard Prince painting has become a multimillion dollar war.
Showbiz mogul Michael Ovitz filed suit last month alleging LA gallerist Perry Rubenstein improperly sold two Prince paintings for him.
Now the buyer of one the works has filed a suit. Art Advisory Limited, an art consulting firm, claims in papers filed Tuesday in New York State Supreme Court it paid $475,000 for Prince’s 1992 work “Nobody’s Home” in November, along with the cost of shipping the work.
But, the papers claim, Perry Rubenstein Gallery and a shipping company “have prevented [the buyer] from taking possession of the painting” and refused to release it, because it is tied up in the Ovitz dispute.
Art Advisory’s suit further alleges Rubenstein “omitted to advise” them he “had a dispute over the painting,” and was, “allegedly not authorized to sell [it]” for a sum less than $575,000.”
In his suit, Ovitz claimed the transaction was unauthorized because “Nobody’s Home” was sold for less than the agreed amount, and he says Rubenstein hasn’t given him any money from the sale of another Prince painting that was sold in May, called, “Untitled (de Kooning).”
Ovitz wants his artwork returned, along with unspecified damages. Art Advisory is alleging fraud and breach of contract and wants $2 million in damages plus the value of the painting.
A source familiar with Ovitz’s dispute said, “Mike gave Perry every opportunity to return his paintings. He said he’d end it quietly if he’d just send them back.” According to court papers, Rubenstein was also sued in 2012 by New York’s Paula Cooper Gallery for not handing over payment from the sale of a Sol LeWitt sculpture valued at $450,000. That dispute has been settled.
Ovitz — who famously takes no prisoners in legal battles — didn’t comment, and Art Advisory’s lawyer didn’t return calls. Rubenstein told us: “Mike Ovitz and I have nothing but mutual respect. He’s an extraordinary collector, and it is a privilege to work with him. These matters . . . are already being resolved as desired and expected: respectfully, civilly and in short order.”