RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The recent murder of 75-year-old art dealer Brent Sikkema in his Rio de Janeiro home has shocked friends and clients, shedding light on the turbulent lifestyle that the renowned New York City art dealer was leading.
Sikkema, the owner of Sikkema Jenkins & Co in Chelsea, was found stabbed to death on January 15th, with his Cuban former bodyguard Alejandro Triana Prevez, 30, now accused of the murder. The art dealer had been embroiled in a bitter divorce battle with his Cuban husband Daniel Garcia Carrera, a 53-year-old former escort. The battle, ongoing since 2022, reportedly involved Carrera demanding $6 million to grant Sikkema visitation rights to their son.
According to Brazilian authorities, Sikkema had expressed concern that Carrera would not accept an amicable settlement. This concern was heightened when Garcia took out a court order that prohibited Sikkema from seeing their 14-year-old son, leading to Sikkema’s arrest for disobeying the order.
Friends and clients of Sikkema have expressed their surprise at learning about the art dealer’s tumultuous personal life, stating that he never spoke about his husband of over a decade. However, despite the ongoing divorce battle, police have not implicated Garcia in Sikkema’s murder. But they are keen on understanding Triana’s relationship with Garcia, especially since Triana worked as a bodyguard for the couple during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sikkema and Garcia married shortly before their son was born via surrogate, and despite the lack of clarity about when their relationship began, Garcia’s memoir published in 2006 revealed that he worked as a male prostitute in Cuba and Spain before leaving the island in 1997.
According to authorities, surveillance camera footage from Gabriel Security Company showed Triana allegedly surveying Sikkema’s residence the day before the murder. Triana reportedly spent 14 hours surveilling the home before entering and attacking Sikkema. He is accused of stealing money and jewelry before being arrested 615 miles away from the crime scene.
The murder has left many stunned, especially those who interacted with Sikkema in New York City’s art scene, where he was known for founding his art gallery and rubbing shoulders with influential figures. Sikkema had flown to Rio de Janeiro for the holidays and was expected to return to New York the day after his murder. As the investigation into his death continues, authorities are working to understand the dynamics at play and bring justice to the slain art dealer.